Dubai

[holzer@butlerbinion.com (Holzer, Joe)]

Here's an article from the Khaleej Times providing some details, but   still not reporting results:

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/

Take part in true spirit; Mohammed

 By Lawrence Machado

 FOR General Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of   Dubai and UAE Minister of
 Defence, winning is not the ultimate aim in the World Endurance   Championship.

 "For me winning is not the main aim but making sure that my horse   finishes the race," said General Shaikh
 Mohammed after his weigh-in at Ghantoot. He will be riding Al Aswad   (Nelson I), a 12-year-old cross bred
 gelding in the 160km race which has attracted a record field of over 175   riders from 37 countries who will start the
 race at 5.45am at Ghantoot.

 General Shaikh Mohammed and his 12-member team may not have the   experience of previous championships like
 many of the competing teams but he does have a winning habit as seen in   his recent forays in Ireland and
 Jordan.

 At the last Desert Giants ride from Ghantoot, General Shaikh Mohammed   retired early but his son, Shaikh Rashid
 bin Mohammed, went on to win the 120km event in style.

 Hassan bin Ali, the racing manager for Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al   Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE
 Minister of Finance and Industry, is also a recent winner in the UAE but   skipped the last Desert Giants race
 where he helped crew for winner, Shaikh Rashid bin Mohammed. Shaikh   Rashid will ride Mr Junabee, the same
 horse which Hasan bin Ali rode to victory in the opening Desert Giants   race this season.

 "We are confident of victory though the Americans are the favourites,"   said Shaikh Rashid, who will be
 accompanied by his brothers, Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed and Shaikh   Maktoum bin Mohammed. Abdullah
 Bilhab, one of the main UAE competitors, will face extra attention as he   is riding Cass, who has recovered from an
 accident last year to become one of the best endurance horses in the   world. This is Cass' first outing in the UAE
 and he will have his American owners, Tom and Rita Swift, for support.

 Meanwhile, the main threat for all competitors will come from the   unusually warm weather at this time of the year.
 Yesterday, the veterinary officers admitted that the weather is warmer   than expected though the three-week
 acclimatisation period for most horses and riders could help them cope   better. Competitors from the Gulf and
 Asia could have an advantage due to this, though the Americans have been   to sample similar conditions due to
 a warmer than usual autumn back home.

 Qatar are represented by Saud Al Saaq and Atta Mohammed while the Saudi   Arabians have sent Mohammed Al
 Mehiesi, Mazin Al Shayan, Abdul Razzak Al Qahtani and Tareq Taher.

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