Today's Edition
DUBAI (ALETIHAD)
A tactically-astute performance from Saif Al Mazrouei aboard Magic Glenn Torque gave his MRM Stables the main glory to bring the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Festival to a close.
The pair won the feature race, the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup and one of the most prestigious competitions on the world endurance calendar, at the Dubai International Endurance City in Seeh Al Salam.
The five-day Festival, organised by Dubai Equestrian Club, comprised four rides. The final day’s action saw Al Mazrouei claim a second title in as many rides following his success aboard Bullio Ahnu in the Gamilati Cup race for mares on Thursday.
Victory in the Gamilati was a fine achievement, but it is the 160-kilometre Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup that truly tested the skill, stamina and ability of the horses and riders, with the background support of the teams crucial throughout the five-loop contest.
And it is in the big ones where the Bhanwar Singh-trained Magic Glenn Torque has repeatedly proved his class in the past. It was much the same from the 14-year-old bay gelding as he played his part in Al Mazrouei keeping close to the summit throughout the day, starting in fifth behind Spain’s Marc Sabata, who led after the 40km first loop aboard M7 Endurance Stables’ Malikan Wajir 13.
Even as the Spaniard held sway over the first three loops, Al Mazrouei and his mount dropped to eighth and found themselves up at sixth at the end of the third. When Sabata dropped out of contention during the 30km-long fourth loop, the F3 Stables pair of Sultan Aref Mohsen and Colorado Armour emerged leaders heading into the final loop of 20kms.
Al Mazrouei, meanwhile, would be making his bid from fourth, two minutes and 35 seconds behind the pace. But as he turned up the heat and went all out at a staggering 31.26kph, the Emirati ace cruised past the rest of his rivals to win with a 16-second buffer. The second-placed M7 Endurance Stables pair of Saif Al Beljafla and Lalick De Fignols, who started the day in 20th place, inced up consistently, and finished as runners-up.
Al Mazrouei’s winning time was six hours 20 minutes and 31 seconds (6:20:31), while second placed Beljafla was timed at 6:20:47. Third place was claimed by Al Aasfa 2 Stables pairing of Ali Al Falasi and Goliath Larzac (6:20:55).
