COMMEMORATION DAY SUCCESS FOR A BATTLING AL MARZOOQI

By Duane Fonseca

Leila Mohammed Al Marzooqi proved herself boss among the big guns of UAE endurance riding at Dubai International Endurance City in Seih Al Salam last week winning the prestigious Commemoration Day Endurance Ride with a last-gasp bid.

And that saw her triumph by a mere second for Al Kamda Endurance Stables aboard Tonki Dee Boo Marley, who the Emirati rider partnered during the course of the four-loop ride that covered a total of 119km.

The pair were far from dominant but got their act together in time with steady backup behind the scenes from Al Kamda Endurance Stables management and the planning of trainer Mansoor Ibrahim Ahmed Ismail. Al Marzooqi and Tonki Dee Boo Marley completed the ride with a time of four hours 20 minutes and 22 seconds (4:20.22) that was three seconds quicker than the 4:20.25 posted by Rashed Mohammed Al Mehairi aboard Al Jawareh Stables’ Sandine Wicked.

Finishing third a further 29 seconds in arrears with a time of 4:20.54 was Rashed Amer Al Ameri, who rode Karabil Rammin for Alazem Stables.

GHAITH SET THE PACE

Al Marzooqi and her 10yo partner started the race with the sixth best time during the first stage spanning 40km as Ghaith Saqer on the SS Stables-owned Var’el’hya set the pace. Saqer fell foul to the tight regulations in place and was eliminated during the course of the second loop over 32km during which his teammate Saif Al Mazrui took over on Hattan.

Al Mazrui failed to hold on to the lead during the third loop spanning 27km and dropped down seven spots to go into the last loop as eighth with the initiative now in the hands of Zayed Mohammed Al Mehairi riding TNT Private Stables’ Be Alive De Sommant.

On the other hand, Al Marzooqi went from sixth to 14th during the second and then managed to climb up four spots to 10th from which she would contest the final loop spanning 20km. She had a mountain to climb as she stared at the 4m7s between her and Al Mehairi, which needed to be wiped off first.

However, with a bit of good fortune and a monumental near 10km increase in pace, Al Marzooqi was able to do just that as Rashed Al Mehairi closed in from the fourth place he held all along. In the end, Al Marzooqi was able to come home 3s clear, with Al Ameri doing well all along to move up consistently from 12th to sixth to fifth before placing third.