ABU DHABI // Hamad Ibrahim al Marzouqi emerged the winner of the 100-kilometre endurance for the Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 race which was exclusively for Emirati riders of privately-owned stables.
Marzouqi made virtually all the running on the 13-year-old gelding Lautaro for the Al Ain Stables to win the race in over four hours and 10 minutes at the Dubai International Endurance City in Seih Assalem on Friday.
Rashid Arif al Zarouni on Soughah finished second ahead of Mohammed Hassan Abdulla on Tiramisu and Layla Abdul Aziz al Redha on Mafaida De Bellevue from a field of 72.
"My instructions from the trainer Matar al Yabouni were to keep a steady pace and the horse responded well," said the winning rider, who led after Abdulla al Harmoudi's mount Klinger was vetted out at the end of the third loop.
"I have ridden this horse a few times before and was winning a race for the first time. It is indeed a pretty good feeling.
"It was a bit tough in the first two loops but it all worked out well from there onwards. I was confident of winning from the third loop onwards" he added.
apassela@thenational.ae
The biog
Prefers vegetables and fish to meat and would choose salad over pizza
Walks daily as part of regular exercise routine
France is her favourite country to visit
Has written books and manuals on women’s education, first aid and health for the family
Family: Husband, three sons and a daughter
Fathiya Nadhari's instructions to her children was to give back to the country
The children worked as young volunteers in social, education and health campaigns
Her motto is to never stop working for the country
If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Funchal via Lisbon, with a connecting flight with Air Portugal. Economy class returns cost from Dh3,845 return including taxes.
The trip
The WalkMe app can be downloaded from the usual sources. If you don’t fancy doing the trip yourself, then Explore offers an eight-day levada trails tour from Dh3,050, not including flights.
The hotel
There isn’t another hotel anywhere in Madeira that matches the history and luxury of the Belmond Reid's Palace in Funchal. Doubles from Dh1,400 per night including taxes.
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
