Za'amah reigns supreme

Saeed Mohammed Khalifa Al Mehairibi rides Za'amah to victory in the Shaikh Mansour Endurance Cup.

Saeed Mohammed Khalifa Al Mehairbi on Za'amah won the Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup 100km ride with Bahrain's Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa on Kelallie de la Cure and Fahad Al Khatri second and third respectively at the Italian Endurance Festival 2015 in Verona, Italy on Saturday.
In the Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Cup, the UAE won the bronze in the team competition behind France and hosts Italy.
Meanwhile, Saif Ahmed Al Mazroui on Descarado won the Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival-sponsored FEI World Championship for Young Horses.
Al Mazroui staved off strong challenge from the Spanish and Italian riders as he negotiated the scenic but challenging course adjoining the Garda River in Segurta Park in five hours 26 minutes and 56 seconds at an average time of 22.02kmph.
"I led right from the start and that was because I knew the horse well. The last time I rode it here in Italy a few months ago I finished second in an 80-km event and today he was in perfect condition even though it was a bit hot," said the young Emirati.
"This is a World Championship and I am happy I did my country proud," said Al Mazroui, who has had some consistent success in the past two years.
"This is a young horse and has been gradually improving and Saif Ahmed Al Mazroui is one of the most promising young riders in the UAE. I was confident of a good show and am happy for Descarado," said trainer Ismail Mohammed, who had also saddled the winner in last year's Festival-sponsored FEI World Championship for Young Horses held in Samorin, Slovakia.
Tiswan Figeole under Saif Salem Al Faresi had won in 2014 and the UAE rider almost made it to the podium this year also but fell short despite a valiant attempt on Une De Miel, another MRM Stable horse trained by Ismail Mohammed.
Two Spanish riders Alex Luque Moral on Surena MB and Jordi Pons Serra on Cata De Montfluq took silver and bronze while the loudest cheers came when Italians Camila Malta on Barbaforte Bosana and Camille Coulomb on Sharon De Suleiman took fourth and fifth spots respectively.
A total of 73 riders started in the 120-km ride which was run in four stages and only 29 completed.