Abu Dhabi’s Wrsan Stables happily captured the trophy for the CEI*** 100-mile HH The President’s Cup endurance ride held at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba, UAE, on Feb. 17.

Sheikh Khaled bin Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan rode the Argentinean-bred ZT Faraventura (Anaza El Farid– ZT Garaventure) for a record finish ride time for this distance of 6:41. The bay gelding was still in top form after he carried Khaled’s older brother, Sheikh Hazza bin Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to victory in a three-day, 150-mile ride in the first week of January.

“I didn’t push my horse too hard until the final 10-mile loop,” said Al Nahyan after the ride. “I think my horse had enough left in the tank at the end.” Al Nahyan was in third place for the last three loops until he made his move.

In this part of the world, the individual stables have their own rivalries as intense as any U.S. college football league. This year’s success by Abu Dhabi’s Wrsan Stables took the trophy off the mantle of the Dubai-based Sheikh Maktoum Stable, last year’s winners. This will intensify the game for the President’s Cup in 2008.

Sheik Majid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, riding the 9-year-old Australian-bred, Kaysand Farrazah (Arfaja Farraj–Nadaara), crossed the finish line 6 minutes after Al Nahyan, and was promoted to second place after Salem Rashed bin Ghadayar, riding the French-bred, Dalton du Capimont did not vet out after his finish behind Al Nahyan.

Al Maktoum’s horse, Kaysand Farrazah, is no stranger to this ride, having won it in 2006 under the guidance of a policeman, Naser Abdulla Mohammad Al Marzouqui. Kaysand Farrazah’s 2007 ride time was 30 minutes faster than last year, and he received the Best Condition award. Sheikh Majid advanced from 22nd place at the end of vet gate 1 to improve his position on each subsequent loop.

The cool early-morning desert air saw 101 riders from 16 nations start the race, with 86 horses that are stabled and trained in the UAE, while 15 of the equestrian world’s top endurance riders looked for their opportunity on the groomed sands of the desert course. The UAE has won this ride since its inception in 2000 and was again favored to win with the home team advantage. The foreign completion rate ended up at 53 percent, as 28 riders finished the ride, including riders who had brought horses from Australia, Britain, France, Portugal, and Italy.


Not A Good Day
It was not a good day for the top-ranked U.S. Equestrian Federation riders. In the total immersion of preparation for an event, the train can come off the tracks at any time.

After a very good ride season and months of preparation, followed by days of travel, the American horse, Mags Motivator (Monarch AH–Parilier), didn’t get to start the ride. A routine injection given the week before the ride may have touched a muscle. Regardless of the cause, an uneven stride was enough to derail months of training and planning.

Owner and rider, Susan Summers of Gifford, Wash., was very disappointed. “We have been training in the desert of Arizona for this ride,” she said. “I haven’t been home in three months.” Shyrocco Troilus (Shah of Giseh–Lady Dorking), Meg Sleeper’s entry, was unhappy to lose his traveling companion for the ride.

Sleeper, from Frenchtown, N.J., said, ” ‘Troy’ had to do most of the ride alone.” He did not have his usual enthusiasm or energy for the trail, and Sleeper made the decision to withdraw in the fifth loop. This was Sleeper’s fourth trip to the UAE and Summer’s second. Grace Ramsey traveled to the UAE and served as chef d’equipe for the American team.

Wildcard rider, Frederick Emigh, from Georgetown, Calif., traveled to the ride on the invitation of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and finished the ride in 10 hours, 33 minutes, riding Make A Wish from the Maktoum Stables. This Egyptian gelding was bred in the United States, but has trained in the UAE for the past several years.

Australia finished both of their riders, who were the first to finish among the foreign invitees. Meg Wade, riding the part-Arabian, China Doll, and Penny Toft, riding the part-bred and much traveled Appaloosa, Electra BBP Murdoch, finished 13th and 14th respectively, with ride times of just more than 8 hours.

Liz Taylor of Great Britain brought Falaima Bint Chatanz home to 18th place, and Pascale Dietsch was the only French rider to finish on the Arabian mare, Denoura Du Barthes, in 19th.

The Italian rider who gained endurance fame when he finished second to Valerie Kanavy in the 1998 World Endurance Championship, Fausto Fiorucci, riding the part-bred, Kedjari Des Serres owned by Sheikh Mohammed, retired on the fourth loop due to lameness. Sheika Madiya Hasher Mana Al Maktoum, who has trained extensively in the United States and was the only female riding among her UAE counterparts, had to retire early in the race.


It’s A Different Kind Of Ride
The UAE riders took top positions coming into the first vet gate, with Australian Toft in 56th position and Wade arriving 70th. The pace of 15 mph was taking its toll on the leaders, and by vet gate 2, Toft was riding in 42nd place while Sleeper was 48th. Through vet gate 3 in 30th place, Toft was averaging more than 12 mph. As the afternoon temperature advanced to the low 80s, Sleeper slowed down and was passed by Dietsch. Sleeper was now in 50th position.

By the fourth vet gate, the leaders had slowed their pace only slightly. The horses were evenly matched, and the win was going to be on recovery time. As the heat and speed took their toll, Toft steadily moved forward into 23rd position. By vet gate 5, Toft and Wade had advanced to ride together, and Toft finished in 14th place with Wade coming in 13th.

This was the first visit to the UAE ride by French Chef d’Equipe Jean Louis LeClerc, who had been handed the reins of the indomitable French team after the untimely death of trainer Pierre Cazes in 2005.

The French are known for their successful team finishes, and LeClerc wondered about the tough competition at the ride for non-desert trained horses. “You cannot win as a team if you do not train in this country,” he said.

This ride in desert terrain produces the fastest times seen at world endurance events. Rides in almost every other venue are more technical, with changes in elevation and composition of terrain. These technical rides are usually won by times of eight or nine hours. The 2006 winning ride time for the World Equestrian Games (Germany) endurance ride by Miguel Vila Ubach was 9:12 on Hungares. On the flat President’s Cup course, Hungares finished in eighth position in the ride time of 7:47.

The upscale endurance village at Al Wathba, built with the comfort of competitors and guests in mind, was the hub of six loops of 21.1, 19.8, 18.6, 14.9, 14.9 and 9.9 miles. The sophisticated vet gate facilities utilized the card entry-exit system and supplied large shaded canopies for vetting crews and small air-conditioned villas for food service and support teams. The grass covered vetting area planted with surrounding shade trees and flowers was a welcome sight for the desert riders and tourists alike, as many locals came to see the ride.


Pamela Burton