Doha: Al Shaqab is the name of the moment in endurance world after three weekends in a row wins.
Since August Al Shaqab didn’t give a chance for other team to reach the podium and confirmed a successfully season in Europe.
Under an atmosphere to achieve good results, the endurance team went towards Florac to participate in three competitions: CEI3* 160 Km, CEI3* 140 Km Young Horses 8 years and CEI2* 130 Km.
The team were ready to compete with the best riders and horses from Europe, in a really traditional competition in France.
Florac is known for the particular characteristics that present, especially very tough mountain climbing and downward tracks, making it very hard and difficult race.
But Al Shaqab endurance team not be dropped at this and showed it to all present their qualities, confirming the professionalism of the team.
A total of 430km to be run started when 4 riders from Al Shaqab finalised the two races 130 Km and 140 Km: Faleh Bughenaim, Nasser Almohannadi, Mohamed Al Sowaidi and Khalid Sanadi.
The young and committed rider Nasser Almonnadi rode Asap Des Agatchols and triumphed as a champion in the 130km.
Mohammed Al Sowaidi also bring a proud result, acquiring the 4th place with Ouarnik du Bruguet.
But the day had another successful outcome for Al Shaqab when Faleh Bughenaim and Samurai Du Mas had a sprint in the finishing line with a french rider. The expertise and impressive quality made the difference for the Qatari rider that reached the top of the podium in 140 Km Young Horses 8 Years.
In the same competition Khalid Sanad and Salam Banquetol came 4th place.
In 160km Faleh Bughenaim showed again his strength in endurance been the best with Major Armor.
The audience were surprised with Al Shaqab’s non-stop victory.
It is a golden era of Al Shaqab’s history and the equestrian community has celebrated this winning spree of Qatar.
“It was an amazing result for Al Shaqab, Florac with the Tevis Cup in USA, are the most difficult race in the world and the 3 wins of this weekend was very significant. The trainers, riders, horses, grooms and assistance were perfect and did a very good job. We had 6 horses in all the competition and 5 of them finish in good positions. The one that didn’t, unfortunately fall down in the 1st loop for 160 Km and wasn’t able to continue in the race”, explained the manager for Al Shaqab Endurance Stables, Hadi Ramzani.
In the weekend before the team marked a memorable history with two winners in Monpazier, also in France Faleh Bughenaim emerged champion in the CEI** 120km and Nasser Almohannadi in CEI* 90km.
The Bastide Town witnessed another triumph for Al Shaqab with Nasser Almohannadi and Djitane de Leyre in the 90km competition.
Earlier in Corlay Al Shaqab also had winners. Khalid Sanad Al Nuami with Kinaye de Sinuhe won the 160km race. In the 120km, Sultam Al Shamousi emerged a winner riding on Abdula Du Florival.
The endurance team is in France for the season since May, participating and training in competitions around the country. The team of Al Shaqab is under the management and training of Ramzani and since 2008 he is dedicated to prepare competitors for national and international events, including European Championships, Asian Games, FEI World Equestrian Games and also committed to achieve success for Al Shaqab Endurance.
The team will be back in Doha at end of this month to re-start the season in Qatar.
The Peninsula
