Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup on Saturday

The prestigious CEI 3 Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup ride will bring the curtains down on Dubai's endurance season.
The Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline, is part of the Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Festival which began on March 14. The Festival and the season fittingly comes to an end with the Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup ride on Saturday.
Some of the top riders from around the world as well as the UAE riders will be taking part in the 140km ride which will be held at the Dubai International Endurance City. The Festival had begun with the CEN Dubai Crown Prince Ride for Ladies on Monday. That was followed by the CEN Dubai Crown Prince Ride Restricted to Private Stables/Individuals and was run over a distance of 100km, on Tuesday.
The CEN 120km Yamamah Endurance Cup for Mares was held on Wednesday. The Festival is being held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.
"On behalf of Dubai Equestrian Club (DEC), we thank Emirates Airline for their support for all equestrian disciplines and endurance, especially the Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup," Mohammed Essa Al Adhab, General Manager of the Dubai Equestrian Club, said at a press conference at the Meydan Racecourse on Thursday morning.
"The Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Festival brings the curtains down on our endurance season and, together with the HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup, is the most prestigious event that we host at the Dubai International Endurance City," he said.
"It was developed as a showcase of events for riders of different levels to share in the experience of a prominent competition. This is a fitting finale for the riders and all the teams of this sport and we wish them the best of luck," he added.
Meanwhile, the Dubai Equestrian Club achieved another feather in its cap when it was awarded the prestigious ISO Quality Management System Certification, on Thursday. The ISO (International Standards Organisation) is an independent, non-governmental organization based in Geneva and it recognizes bodies that operate to world-class specifications.
Meaanwhile, Shaikh Majid Al Mualla, Emirates' Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Centre, said that the airline has always had a strong link with equine sport in the UAE and across the world.
"Emirates has a strong affiliation with horse racing and equestrian sports around the globe and we are honoured to support this year's Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup. The race is a true testament of both the horses' endurance and the riders' skills and Emirates is delighted to sponsor this excellent event. And we are confident that this year's race will be incredibly successful," Shaikh Majid Al Mualla said.
The Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup ride is open to horses seven years and above and there are five loops that will make up the 140km. The Pre-Ride Inspection for both local and overseas horses as well as the Rider's weigh-in will be held on Friday.
The race gets going on Saturday at 7 a.m. The first loop, yellow, will be 40km, followed by red which is 32km. The third loop, green, is 30km, and the 20km makes up the fourth loop, orange. The final loop, white, consists of 18km.
james@khaleejtimes.com