(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Qatar's Faleh Nasser Saleh yesterday topped the CHI International Ride field, winning the 120km contest ahead of compatriot Bilal Bassam Shawqi Al Kharraz.
Halte A Tout, ridden by Faleh, clocked a time of 4 hours 56 minutes and 19 seconds to nail the win ahead of 58 other riders.
Second-placed Bilal, who was riding Ithilien Arwen, finished with a time of 5 hours 3 minutes and 57 seconds.
The top two riders represent the Al Shaqab Endurance Team.
In third place was Abdullah Tahous Said Al Naimi, who clocked a time of 5 hours 8 minutes and 1 second. Al Naimi was riding Qualine El Widde.
Faleh was thrilled with his win. "I would like to thank the discipline manager. We started early in the morning. We wanted cool weather because it gets hot and it did. Bilal was behind me. In the last lap my horse and I won comfortably," Faleh said.
Faeh said he was in no mood to let go off his top billing in the world. "You are probably aware that I am the world number one," Faleh said. "To be classified as the best rider in the world is amazing. I was not in the same ranking last August. My coach was able to motivate me to do well, to do our best, to get most points," the Qatari said.
"This is the road to the top spot. I took the lead in the last two races. I outperformed Khalid. Had it not been for the coach I wouldn't have made it. I was planning to take part in the European championships but those are not open to us," Faleh said.
When asked about his horse, Faleh said: "Yes, he is a world-class horse. If I have the possibility to race outside endurance, I would go for it. I'd love to race for Qatar."
Bilal said finishing second to Faleh was not a bad result.
"The competition was tough. It's not easy. It's 120km. You need strong horses," he said.
"There were strong riders and a few underdogs. At the beginning it was easier. Later it got hotter and it became tougher. I tried to push my horse but I couldn't do better than second," the Qatari said.
"I do want to go on and do well and improve in this class," Bilal said. "I ride every day. I put in a lot of hours of training. I want to be the best in this class."
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