Riding 12-year-old grey Shaddad, Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Juma Al Maktoum edged out Indian rider Madhu Singh on Mustafa to win the prestigious 160-km HH The President of the UAE Endurance Cup at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba on Saturday, February 13. In a grueling ride that attracted 190 riders and horses from all over the world, Sheikh Rashid and Madhu Singh were involved in a two-way battle for supremacy and the UAE rider came up on top to win with a little over a minute to spare after the 160-km ride.

The ride was held in six loops of 40kms, 33kms, 24kms, 23kms, 20kms and 20kms and was attended by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince, HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs along with many other VIP guests. The Al Jazeera Stable 2 rider Madhu Singh and the 10-year-old Mustafa had earlier in the season won the 120-km Al Dhafrah Endurance Ride, took charge immediately after the second loop and led for the next two stages. Sheikh Rashid also joined the race and at the end of the fourth stage moved into second place.

The two then battled it out all the way to the wire but Sheikh Rashid who took the lead in the penultimate stage held on to complete the final 20km and win in a time of 6 hours four minutes and 54 seconds. The MRM Stable star‘s horse is trained by Mohammed Ali Al Subose.

The eight other riders who finished in the top ten also won Nissan Patrol 4WD cars for their effort.

Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairperson of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA) and Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) said, “The ride was a great success and full credit goes to the supervision of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.”