Argentine Chopita scores on Tehama Souveign

Six riders win cars in National Day Cup Endurance Ride

RESULTS

Argentina’s Daiana Yamila Chopita riding 12-year-old grey gelding Tehama Souveign won the prestigious

National Day Cup 120Km Endurance Ride held on Saturday, December 2, 2017 at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi.

The ride was tended by UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Dubai Crown Prince HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum among other VIP guests.

Chopita came up with a consistent performance to stave off a strong set of UAE riders who took eight of the 10 spots in the 120-km ride which was run in four stages.

Hitting the front early, Chopita and Tehama Souveign, took the lead after the second stage and from there on did not look back to win in 4hrs 16mins 57secs at an average speed of 28.02 kmph.

The next five spots went to UAE riders and Mansour Saeed Mohd Al Faresi (Rakib Nikita),

Hamad Obaid Rashed Al Kaabi (Unzo), Saeed Ahmad Jaber Al Harbi (Reagan), Salem Hamad Saeed Malhoof Al Kitbi (Al Theeb) 04:27:40 and Khalifa Mohammed Alkhyeli (Copernico) in that order.

All the top six riders won a 4X4WD car each and were among the 33 who completed the ride from the 156 starters.

Major General Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi, President of Emirates Equestrian Federation, Ms. Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, General Manager of Wathba Stallions, Chairperson of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA), Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR), Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi- Director General of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club and Mussalem Al Ameri, Director of Al Jazira 1 & 2 Stables were among others who distributed the trophies.

All the guests greeted the UAE leaders as the UAE marked National Day.

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 2018, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa and Resort.

The results
Top six of the National Day Cup 120 Km Endurance Ride held on Saturday, 2nd December 2017, at the Emirates International Endurance Village, Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi:

1. Daiana Yamila Chopita (Tehama Souveign) 4hrs 16mins 57secs (Av speed-28.02 kmph)

2. Mansour Saeed Mohd Al Faresi (Rakib Nikita) 04:17:40

3. Hamad Obaid Rashed Al Kaabi (Unzo) 04:23:14

4 . Saeed Ahmad Jaber Al Harbi (Reagan) 04:23:33

5 . Salem Hamad Saeed Malhoof Al Kitbi (Al Theeb) 04:27:40

6. Khalifa Mohammed Alkhyeli (Copernico) 04:31:59 

Source: HH SH Mansoor Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival / Satya Narayan and Bharathi Gowda
Photos: Morhaf Al Assaf