Today's Edition
DUBAI (AlETIHAD)
Luba Varela became the second international rider to bring glory to M7 Endurance Stables at this year’s Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Festival on Thursday after the Uruguayan paced her ride to perfection and took a massive risk aboard RO Generala to win the Yamamah Cup for Mares, the third on the schedule of four races.
Partnering the Mohammed Al Subosi-trained the 10-year-old RO Generala, Varela completed the 120-kilometre ride over four loops in four hours, 17 minutes and 10 seconds to win ahead of top F3 Stables rider Rashed Al Mehairi and Ransome Shasam, who were home a further seven seconds adrift in 4:17:17.
Abdulla 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 40km. However, Al Hammadi took over during the course of the second loop spanning 35km 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. Taking aim at the title from fourth was definitely going to be easier but Varela had both Al Mehairi and Al Hammadi to deal with. However, she got RO Generala to empty her tank and the pair went from racing at 26.42 to 31.87 kilometres per hour to win with seven seconds to spare.
Al Mehairi had his own battles to fight and climbed from 23rd to 16th before making a bid for glory during the last phase from eighth. On the other hand, Al Hammadi, eighth after the first loop, held top spot before letting go during the fourth and final loop.
The first ride of the Festival, organised by Dubai Equestrian Club in association with the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, was won by Milena Mendez (Poli) for M7 Endurance Stables on Monday. The following Private Stables competition on Wednesday was claimed by Maitha Al Qubaisi (Picnic Park Parisian Dawn) for Zabeel Stables. The fourth and final ride will be the showpiece Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup over 120km on Saturday.
