Indian rider Madhu Singh wins Al Dhafra Ride

It was a great triumph for the Al Jazeera Stable 2 when their rider Madhu Singh Sumer Singh on 10-year-old Mustafa won the 120-km Al Dhafrah Endurance Ride at the Emirates International Endurance Village, Al Wathba in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, December 19. The Indian rider Madhu Singh finished ahead of three UAE riders - Abdulla Rashid Al Naqbi on RR Kings Gold, Sheikh Hamed Dalmook Juma Al Maktoum on Quarat Poulpic and Saeed Sultan Shames Al Maamari on Radja Al Mels before another Indian rider from Al Jazeera Stable 2, Tej Singh Bhanwar Singh on Relincho Fortunato finished fifth in the 120-km event in which 97 riders started. Both Madhu Singh and Tej Singh were 20th and 32nd after the first 40-kms, and then moved in to 17th and 20th respectively after the next 20-kms. However in the final two stages, the two riders on horses trained by Khamis Atiq Al Romaithi did very well to move forward and succeed. “I’m delighted to win the race for the Stables of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. This is my first ever win. It was a tough race and very difficult. All the horses were in good form and the riders were pressing each other all the way,” said Madhu Singh. The race was attended by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs and HH Sheikh Shakhbout Bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Emirates Equestrian Federation. HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum praised the hard work of the organizing committee and the perfect organization of the event which made it easy for the riders through the clearly marked tracks.

“The race was great and the riders were very helpful by abiding with the laws and regulations. The respect of the rules is very crucial for the success of any event,” he told Yas Sports Channel.

“The competition was tough and the horses were in a very good condition,” he added.

Sheikh Mansoor hailed the good effort of the organisers saying that he met with them during the race to listen to their comments and remarks about the recent amendments of the rules.

“The fixtures are well planned and the timings were suitable. All trainers and jockeys have had enough time to prepare their horses and that was why all the horses which have entered the race were in good shape and performed satisfactorily,” he said.

“The race was good despite the high speed in the opening loops. But the weather was fine and helpful,” he added.

Adnan Sultan, who heads the Ride Organising Committee, admitted that the comments of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on the successful organization motivates them to improve further and do better in the future.

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 race was exciting and witnessed a very strong competition between the riders. The attendance of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Their Highnesses the Sheikhs is a great pleasure for us and added more prestige to the race.”

“The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival has earmarked three cars during the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Heritage Festival to be drawn on January 2, 2016 for ladies, men and people with special needs.

“The Festival also honoured Noura Al Suwaidi in appreciation of her role in supporting and enabling woman to participate in the economic and sport fields,” she added.

Ms Sawaya congratulated HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the victory of his stables in the race.

The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is sustained by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, with National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC as associate sponsors, in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare with The National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers and sponsored by Invest AD, Bloom, Petromal, Rise General Trading Co. LLC, Hayatna, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE's General Women's Union, The Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2015, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Yas Channel, Omeir Travels, Racing Post, Paris Turf and Laboratories Fadia Karam Cosmetics.

Results (Top five)

1. Madhu Singh Sumer Singh – IND - (Mustafa) 04hrs 15mins 03secs;
2. Abdulla Rashid Mohd Saeed Al Naqbi – UAE - (RR Kings Gold) 04:15:06;
3. Sheikh Hamed Dalmook Juma Al Maktoum – UAE - (Quarat Poulpic) 04:22:14;
4. Saeed Sultan Shames Al Maamari – UAE - (Radja Al Mels) 04:22:15;
5. Tej Singh Bhanwar Singh – IND - (Relincho Fortunato) 04:23:12.

Source: HH SH Mansoor Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival / Satya Narayan
Photo: Morhaf Al Assaf