Varela wins Yamamah Cup for M7 Endurance

Luba Leoni Varela became the second international rider to bring M7 Endurance Stables glory at this year’s Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Festival on Thursday after the Uruguayan paced her ride to perfection and took a massive gamble aboard RO Generala to win the Yamamah Cup for Mares, the third competition on the Festival’s schedule.

Partnering the Mohammed Ahmad Al Subosi-trained 10-year-old, Varela completed the 120 km four-loop ride in four hours, 17 minutes and 10 seconds (4:17:10) to win ahead of top F3 Stables rider Rashed Mohammed Al Mehairi and Ransome Shasam, who were home a further seven seconds adrift in 4:17:17.

Abdulla Mohammed Al Hammadi was third for Al Reef Ajban Stables, fractions of a second adrift on the back of Stirlings Safari. The timing of the third placed pairing was rounded off to an identical 4:17:17.

The day began with Al Wathba pair of Abdulrahman Al Ghailani and LC Chismosa seizing control at the end of the first loop over 40 km. However, Al Hammadi took over during the course of the second loop spanning 35 km and held his position at the top of the leaderboard during the 25-km third loop, with Varela and RO Generala forced to ride hard early on, during the course of the second phase, in order to play catch.

The Uruguayan did her part well and moved up 13 spots from 31st to 18th and then pushed again during the third loop to reach fourth.