UAE- Argentina's Milena partners Moreno to another endurance victory

Abu Dhabi 28th November 2015 (WAM) - Moreno an 11-year-old bay stallion from Al Reef Stables won the 100-km Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance Cup for the second year in a row at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba Abu Dhabi on Saturday November 28 2015.

Last year Moreno carried Argentina's Catalina to victory in this race and this year it was another Argentinean lady Milena Mendez who won a thrilling 100-km ride spread over four stages.

Earlier in the morning 95 lady riders started in the race which was held under the directives of HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs and sponsored by National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC among others.

The ride was attended by HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed among others.

Milena who was 5th at the end of the first 40kms then moved into second place in the second stage of 25kms but dropped to third in the third stage of 19 kms.

Milena on Moreno started 14 seconds behind Poland's Kamila Anita Kart on Othentik Du Fausset and fellow Argentine Sabrina Mendiz on El Pangue Beisk but her past connection with her horse seemed to have brought out the best in the final 16-km loop.

Milena and Moreno had won the 100km Sheikha Fatma Bint Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Ladies Endurance Cup on February 28 earlier this year and their partnership worked again as the rider registered her second win and the horse his fourth win in the UAE. The victory was by a narrow margin as the two horses were separated by just 30 seconds with the winner completing the 100-km distance in 3 hours 38 minutes and two seconds.

The UAE's Mariam Jasim Al Ansaari on Horr Ibn Jahir was second with Kamila Anita Kart on Othentik Du Fausset third. Argentina's Maria Julia Sciaroni on Sugarsop De Sallaz and the UAE's Sara Mohammed Al Jaber on Highland View Dolly finished fourth and fifth and all five top riders were awarded a 4WD car each.

"This is my second win and both were Ladies rides with the same horse Moreno" said the winner adding that the track was tough at places where there were many ups and downs and the sand was deep in the final stage.

But Moreno is a great horse. His pulse rate after the final loop was very low. I think he is a true endurance horse" said Milena.

Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi Abu Dhabi Euestrian Club's Director General Ahmed Al MarzouqiIFHAR Mounira Al MarzouqiNational Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC and Ms Lara Sawaya Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansour 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) gave away the trophies to the winners.

"Next year this race is going to be a 120km FEI Two-star ride. The fixtures of the new season will be announced in January. Today's ride was good well-organised and the weather was fine which was of great help to the riders and horses" Ms Sawaya said.