• Home
• /
• Horse Racing

Richel Wins Rashid bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Challenge Ride

The 23-year-old Briton Richel, riding eight-year-old chestnut gelding Baddah from the Al Wathba Stables, finished with a time of three hours, four minutes and 24 seconds, a second less than Emirati Afra Khalifa Al Suwaidi (3.04.25). Afra rode Estaban from the Al Reef Stables.

Al Yazia Khalifa Al Suwaidi on Al Galahn from Al Reef Stables clocked 3.07.51 to finish third.

The event drew 65 riders and the participants were required to cover the CEN 90km ride divided into four stages of 30 km, 24 km, 20 km and 16 km.

The two-day festival will conclude on Saturday with an open ride. “It was a very close finish and Afra was amazing. It was difficult to beat her as she was pushing me to the end,” said Richel and added: “This is my first season of endurance in the UAE and I am very happy to win here after competing in two rides.”

The horse was trained by Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri who said this was the first time he has prepared a horse for a ride reserved for lady endurance riders. This was also Baddah’s first win.

The Challenge ride was jointly sponsored by Bonyan International Investment Group, Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Challenge Festival 2010.

Ali Al Muhairi, racing manger of Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, gave away the trophies in the presence of Adnan Saif Al Nuaimi, director general of Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Ali Moosa Al Khmiri, general manager of Dubai Equestrian Club and Lara Sawaya, managing director of Tasweeq.

Results (Top five): 1. Rachael Harriet Harvey (Baddah- Al Wathba Stables) 3:04.24; 2. Afra Khalifa Al Suwaidi (Estaban- Al Reef Stables) 3:04.25; 3. Al Yazia Khalifa Al Suwaidi (Al Galahn-Al Reef Stables) 3:07.51,; 4. Fatma Jassem Saeed Al Marri (Hirstglen Horizon- Seeh Al Salam Endurance Stables) 3:10.50; 5. Trinu Rannast (Greywood Masadah) Seeh Al Salam Endurance Stables) 3:14.02.

james@khaleejtimes.com