Italians dominate HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival supported endurance rides

Luca Zappettini and Agraria

Arborea, Sardinia, Italy - Adrien Benedetti from France on Uzim d’Altare prevented an Italian domination after winning the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup (Open) Two-star 120-km ride while it was the host country riders who won the remaining rides in the Sardegna Endurance Festival in Arborea - a town in the province of Oristano, Sardinia, Italy on Saturday, April 21, 2018.

Benedetti on Uzim d’Altare with a ride time of 6 hrs 40 minutes and 23 seconds was way ahead of Italians Antonello Mulas on Su Rai (7:15.45) and Marco Angeli on Sabra Nirwana.

Adrien Benedetti on Uzim d’Altare

Italian Luca Zappettini riding Agraria won the ‘In the Year of Zayed’ 160-km CEI Three Star ride with Stefano Mori on Aechmea della Bosana and Chiara Marrama on Quintaessenza finishing in that order.

The HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies 120-km Two Star ride was again an Italian sweep but ended in a close contest with Linda Iosa on Giorgio (6:42.59) winning from Giada Bottiglia on Soraia (6:43.49). Elisabetta Montanari on Verbena della Bosana finished third in a time of 6:44.44.

Linda Iosa on Giorgio

In the 120-km Two Star ride for Juniors and Young Riders, Valentina Galli on Nordai finished ahead of Chiara Bruschi on CG Twice Nimroz.

Alessandro Generali rode A Big Aladyr to victory in the 90Km CEI One star ride with French rider Rollland Vergé on Malik'sha d'Olmarellu in second place. Carmine Calvanese on Luke finished third.

Chiara Bruschi on CG Twice Nimroz

Al the rides were held under the umbrella of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival in association with Horse Country Resort and the Italian Equestrian Federation.

Ms. Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of 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, “Endurance is a sport that the Festival is very keen to support and we have been doing this with a special focus on lady riders and young riders. This year in 2018 we not only mark the 10th anniversary of the Festival but more important the 100th birth anniversary of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founder and father of the UAE.”

Ms. Lara Sawaya thanked  HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs and the strong support of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and Head of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, Mother of the UAE for their support to the sport of Endurance Riding.

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 carrier,  in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFHRA, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abu Dhabi Youth Council, General Authority for Sports and sponsored by Ayadi LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC,  Nissan Middleast  Al Massood Automobiles, Nirvana Travels and Tourism LLC, Equicare Veterinary Services, Alawal Stud, Cavalos Equine Care & Supplies, SET Sustainable Environmental Technologies, Al Awani General Enterprises, Omeir Travels, Kabale, YAS Channel, Abu Dhabi Falconers Club, Emirates Falconers Club,  Mohammed Bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School,  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, Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa and Resort.

Source: HH SH Mansoor Festival / Satya Narayan
Photos: Oreste Testa - Sport Endurance EVO