Riders from the UAE had another great outing with Khalifa Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri and Mohammed Al Mazrooei winning their respective events in the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival-supported Italia Endurance Festival in Verona, Italy, to add to Saturday’s double gold effort by the UAE ladies.
Fifteen year-old UAE schoolboy Khalifa stunned his seniors when he edged past two other UAE riders in a close finish to win the 126-km HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup Open CEI Two Star ride.
The Al Ain schoolboy, riding Vendaval, was involved in a close battle with Saeed Al Khayari on Ostro Di Chia and Sheikh Hasher bin Mohammed Thani Al Maktoum on Cal Colonial.
Khalifa waited in third place for much of the final stage before he saw a gap and seized that opening to win by two seconds.
The 1-2-3 finish in the Open ride was followed by a similar result by the under-21 UAE riders in the 120- km HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup (Young and Junior riders) Two Star ride.
Mohammed Al Mazrooei on Khedji took six hours 11 mins and 27 secs to win the gold ahead of Mohammed Al Muhairi on Fair Plex (6:12.49) while Ali Ghanem Al Ali on Shakim finished third with a timing of 6:12.50.
Sweden’s Annelie Eriksson on Penelope Del Ma prevented a UAE clean sweep when she won the 86-km HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup One Star ride.
Lara Sawaya, executive director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, said: “The victory of UAE lady riders is very significant as it is the first FEI ride for ladies and the team did very well to win the team gold as well as the individual gold and silver.
“And on Sunday, Khalifa Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri did the UAE proud. The Young Riders’ event was also a clean sweep by UAE riders. The performance is indeed a great Ramadan gift to the UAE citizens.”
