ARGENTINIAN DELIVERS STRONG FINISH TO TAKE 100KM ENDURANCE RIDE
Argentina’s Milena Mendez scored a thrilling comefrom-behind victory when denying Emirati rider Nouf Abdul Reda Ali in the CEN 100km Shaikha Fatima Bint Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Ladies Endurance Cup at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba yesterday.
Riding 11-year-old Moreno, Mendez clocked 3 hrs 18 min 40 sec, with Reda Ali just two seconds behind.
Martina Spelanzon, also from Argentina, rode Al Reef Stables-owned eight-year-old Fangio Font Noireto to third place, seven minutes further back.
Fourth place went to Polish rider Kamila Kart, while Egypt’s Noura Abdullah Ahmad Mahmoud finished fifth. All top five finishers drove away with a four-wheel-drive car each.
Mendez was 18 seconds behind Reda Ali when they set out on the final 20km loop, but succeeded in pressing her horse to clock an average speed of more than 33km/h to claim the narrow victory.
“This is my first win in my ten-year career. My horse is a true champion,” the 21 year old, who is based at the Al Ain Stables, said.
“The ride was tough, particularly in the first and final loops, and the dust added more difficulties to our job.”
Abdullah Hassan Al Hammadi, who trained the winning horse, was full of praise for Mendez.
Honest rider
“She’s a brilliant girl who gave the mount a great ride. Milena is very honest and always listens and follows instructions,” he said.
The ride was held under the banner of the Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and was split into three stages of 40km, 40km and 20km. It attracted 103 riders.
Shaikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy UAE National Security Adviser, and Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs, were in attendance.
Shaikha Fatima Bint Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Shaikh Mohammad Bin Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mansour Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, will lead the UAE riders in the Gulf Endurance Cup which starts today at the Sabah Al Ahmad Cultural and Heritage Village in Salmiyah, Kuwait. The 100-km race is being held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and is organised by the Kuwaiti Equestrian Endurance Association. 138 horsemen and women will take part. Shaikh Hamdan arrived in Kuwait yesterday morning, where he was welcomed at the airport by Shaikh Ali Jarrah Al Sabah, Deputy Minister of Kuwait’s Amiri Court. Bin Zayed Al Nahyan gave away the prizes and trophies.
The prize giving ceremony was also attended by Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, and Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the Shaikh Mansour Festival.
The festival is organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority.