Dubai, United Arab Emirates: The 17th edition of the HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Festival gets underway at Dubai International Endurance City in Seih Al Salaam on February 20 with the HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup for Ladies sponsored by Azizi Developments, a leader in the UAE’s rapidly-growing real estate sector.
The HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup for Ladies sponsored by Azizi Developments is contested over a 101km four-loop circuit and is the first of four events on the schedule of the HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Festival that ends on February 24 with the showpiece 160km HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup.
The HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Festival is organised by Dubai Equestrian Club in cooperation with the United Arab Emirates Equestrian and Racing Federation (UAEERF).
For years, the HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup for Ladies sponsored by Azizi Developments has witnessed truly enthralling contests. The race has consistently attracted the top female talent from around the globe and pitted them against each other on the backs of some of the world's best endurance horses. The HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup for Ladies sponsored by Azizi Developments is organised with a view to giving women a solid sporting platform in which to express themselves.
Farhad Azizi, CEO of Azizi Developments, commented: “It is with the greatest pleasure that we sponsor the HH Endurance Cup Festival - Ladies Ride, now for the seventh consecutive year. With the most highly acclaimed and talented women competing, this marks yet another year of impressive, world-leading performances in the 101km endurance race.”
Major General Dr. Mohammad Issa Al Adhab, Member of the Board of Directors and Director General of the Dubai Equestrian Club, said: “I would like to thank His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for his incredible support of this annual festival of endurance riding and for the immense interest shown by him in various equestrian disciplines. His vision has driven us to achieve great results in the field of endurance riding and we are honoured to host an event of this calibre in his name.
“The HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup for Ladies sponsored by Azizi Developments is considered one of the best races in the world that targets female riders in our sport and provides them with more racing opportunities. It has achieved great success over the years and has produced some truly epic finishes.
“We would also like to extend our thanks to Azizi Developments, who have been supporting the race for years now. Their commitment towards giving back to the equestrian community is not just seen in endurance racing, but in other disciplines of equestrian sport as well.”
Last year’s HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup for Ladies sponsored by Azizi Developments was won by Masa Adnan Tonbakji of Syria aboard El Nize Gamilah, owned by the powerful F3 Stables, with a time of 3:27:51. Such was the intensity of the competition during the 2023 renewal that second placed Milena Mendez of Argentina found herself a mere second adrift aboard M7’s Jamal Beauty with 3:27:52 on the clock, while Tonbakji’s F3 teammate Buthaina Khalid Al Redha of the UAE placed third aboard Midland Cooper with 3:27:53 on the timer.
