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Ali Khalfan Al Kahouri vence a prova
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Al
Jahouri wins Endurance Cup
By
M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
January 17, 2009. Photo by Ahmed Kutty
Abu Dhabi: Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri, riding nine-year-old
gelding EO Jaras, won the prestigious 160-km His Highness
Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup 160-km
ride on Saturday at the Dubai International Endurance
City in Seih Assalam.
The Al Wathba Stables' trainer-cum-rider, who finished
second in this ride last year, unleashed a terrific pace
on the final loop of 19km to win from Dalpat Singh Ganpat
Singh and Indian work rider with another Abu Dhabi -based
stable - Al Reef.
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Al
Jahouri, who was fifth going into the final loop, whipped up a
30.87kmph speed on the grey Purebred Arabian gelding, and that
effort saw him win the Omega-sponsored event.
"This is the second outing for this horse after he was eliminated
despite finishing first in a junior ride. But today he was just
classy and I always knew he would run a big race," said Al
Jahouri, who holds the world record for a 120-km ride.
"I started well and finished the first 32kms in 5th place
but later paced the ride and dropped to 11th and 10th positions
in the next two loops of 32kms and 29kms," he said.
"When I went out on the final loop some of the best riders
were ahead of me including last year's winner Omair Hussein. I
am greatly satisfied with this win," he said.
Al Jahouri completed the 160-km ride in a timing of six hours
39 minutes and 11 seconds at a ride average speed of 24.05 kmph.
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Dalpat
Singh, who used to be a work rider for trainer S. Padmanabhan
in Bangalore before he came over to the UAE, has been a
consistent performer with the Al Reef Stables, finished
on Elphyn Phoxx in second place and led a 2-3-4 finish for
Al Reef Stables.
"This
is my best ever finish. Earlier I had finished 6th and that
was my best. Today I just felt good on my horse, riding
the 11-year-old for the second time and it is a good result,"
said Dalpat Singh. |
Yousuf Ahmad Al Beloushi rode last year's record-breaking winner
Charlandre El Sharif to the third place while Omair Hussain Al
Beloushi on Silversprings Kabir was fourth.
Omair on Charlandre El Sharif had created a new world record for
a 160-km ride with a timing of 6hrs 28 mins 28 secs at the same
venue last year.
Earlier in the morning 84 riders got off to a mass start to battle
for a slice of the prize money in the season's first 160-km event.
Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown
Prince, on Kumait, and Shaikh Majid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al
Maktoum on Spendacrest Kamouflage made early exits.
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Hamdan-led
team holds advantage
By
Alaric Gomes - Gulf News
January 15, 2009
Defending champion Omair Hussain Al Baloushi and last
year's runner-up Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri believe a strong
presence of UAE riders led by Dubai Crown Prince Shaikh
Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum holds a distinct
advantage going into this weekend's His Highness Shaikh
Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup.
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The
CEI*** 160km ride to be held at the Dubai International Endurance
City on Saturday, has attracted a field of some of the top endurance
riders from across the globe. And though the field includes
the top three on the 2008 FEI World Rankings, Al Baloushi still
believes the title will stay back in the UAE, given the home
advatange.
"Every rider out there will be a threat," predicted
defending champion Al Baloushi.
"There are a lot of good riders and superb horses in the
ride, but the competition will be among the local riders,"
added last year's runner-up Al Jahouri, the trainer-cum-rider
from Al Wathba Stables.
Riders from the UAE made a clean sweep in last year's inaugural
ride of this Dubai Equestrian Club-organised event with Al Baloushi
and Al Jahouri being followed by Fazaa Endurance Stable's Mohammad
Rashid Al Subosi.
Last year's win was even more memorable for the young Al Reef
Stables' rider Al Baloushi as he set a new world record for
the 160km race with a time of six hours, 28.28 minutes at an
average speed of 24.71kph.
"Perhaps the existing weather conditions may make it more
easy for the visiting horses and riders. But the competition
will still be among the riders from the UAE," Al Baloushi
stated.
Frenchman Jack Begaud, who ended number one in the 2008 FEI
World Rankings, hoped the weather would stay unchanged.
"This weather will be to our advantage, but I doubt we
will be able to pose a serious threat to the riders from here
simply because they are specialists in this sport," Begaud
admitted.
Also joining Begaud will be world number two Pio Olascoaga Amaya
from Uruguay, world number three Laurent Mosti from France and
world number six Meg Wade from Australia. "My horse is
not trained here, so a top-10 finish would be a realistic result
for me," Wade said.
Taleb Daher Al Muhairi, Secretary General of the UAE Equestrian
and Racing Federation echoed similar thoughts.
"We
have the best endurance riders in the world for this race, but
the experience of Shaikh Hamdan and Shaikh Majid will definitely
count. The champion will be the one who uses his experience
ultimately," stated Al Muhairi.
Ali
Mousa, General Manager of the Dubai Equestrian Club stated that
a total of Dh1.5 million will be on offer for the top 25 finishers
with the winner walking away with Dh250,000, a car and an Omega
watch worth $25,000.
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