Alyazia and Alia finished hand-in-hand in the 120-km

UAE dominate HH Sheikha Fatima ladies ride in Italy and four UAE riders finish in top five

Sardinia - Lady riders from the UAE did the country proud when four of their riders finished in the top five in the 120-km HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies CEI Two-star Cup which was part of the three-day Sardinia Endurance Festival that concluded on Sunday in the Horse Country Resort area in Arborea, Sardinia in Italy.

Four rides were part of the Sardinia Endurance Festival and the highlight was the ladies competition in which UAE riders Alyazia Al Romaithi on Holoutaria and Alia Al Saboori on Shamberlain finished hand-in-hand in the 120-km.

Italian rider Isabella Bonetto on Ottello finished third to prevent a podium sweep but the next two were again two UAE riders- Nouf Ali on Aranza and Ayesha Al Romaithi on Oregon- thus making it four in the top five for the UAE.

Alyazia and her horse Holuoutaria, a 10-year-old chest mare, covered the 120-km distance in 6 hours 59 minutes and 30 seconds at an average speed of 17.44 kmph.

The triumphant UAE lady riders dedicated their victory to the UAE leaders.

In the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup-CEI Two-star ride Carlo Carta, astride Franco led a 1-2-3 finish for  Italy with Graziano Branca on Legionario and Nicola Bussu on Peonia Di Barbagia following in second and third places respectively. The winning time for this ride was 7 hours 34 minutes and 23 seconds.

Jonel Coetzee of Namibia on Quello Che Vuoi emerged as champion of junior after winning the CEI YJ Two-star 120 km ride and was the only one to complete the ride.

HE Saqr Nasser Al Raisi, UAE Ambassador to Italy, Ms Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairperson of Int'l Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA) and Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR), Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Ahmed Al Qubaisi, Mussallem Alamri, Director of Al Jazira Stables I & II and Riccardo Giachino, Chairman of the Organizing Committee attended the rides and gave away the prizes. 

“It was a tough race and the track was very challenging, but we were able to work our way through and get there,” said a jubilant Alyazia Al Romaithi after her win.

“The most difficult stage was the second loop where there were many turns and I was forced to slow down. Finally, things began to improve and I managed to increase my speed and win,” she said.

Noura Al Suwaidi, Director General of the UAE Women’s Union spoke to the winners over the phone and conveyed the greetings of HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood. She said the achievement underlines the brilliance of the UAE girls and their progressive performances.

UAE Ambassador to Italy, Al Raisi praised the unlimited support of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs and HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak to promote the UAE culture and history.

“The UAE girls did well and their very presence at this level is exciting, let alone winning the race,” he noted.

Ms Sawaya said, “This achievement is an honour for all of us. The eam has been working hard to organize the horses and in training and  their efforts have paid off.”

 “We will meet again in Brussels on August 17, 18 and 19 where the UAE girls reappear in the only race which is reserved for teams, the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Mother of the UAE Endurance Cup,” she added.

Riccardo Giachino, Chairman of the Organizing Committee thanked the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival for supporting the Sardinia Endurance Festival and said it was a huge boost for the sport in Italy.

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, The National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers, in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare and sponsored by Ayadi LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC,  Wathba Stallions, Abu Dhabi Falconers Club, Emirates Falconers Club,  Mohamed Bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Omeir Travels, Laboratories Fadia Karam Cosmetics, YAS Channel, Racing Post, Paris Turf,  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 2017, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa and Resort.

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