Al Awasif claim a 1-3 in Sheikh Mohammed Cup for Private Stables
Al Blooshi guides Sandine Raptor during the 101km ride to gain a comfortable victory
Last updated: February 19, 2025 | 19:31
2 MIN READ
Dubai: Al Awasif 2 Stables clinched the His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup for Private Stables on the second day of the His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Festival after Ali Mohammed Qambar Al Blooshi guided Sandine Raptor with absolute consistency during the course of the 101km ride to gain a comfortable victory at Dubai International Endurance City in Seeh Al Salam on Wednesday.
Riding the Australian bred eight-year-old Anglo-Arab gelding, Al Blooshi completed the four-loop ride in a time of three hours, 24 minutes and 37 seconds (3:24:37) to claim what was the biggest prize of his career so far.
Finishing second were Zabeel Stables pair of Maitha Al Qubaisi and her mount Picnic Park Parisian Dawn with a time of 3:24:45, while third place was claimed by another Al Awasif 2 Stables rider Hind Albedwawi, who completed the ride aboard Schelmigra Truckstarr in a time of 3:24:53.
The His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Festival is held in honour of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, a former World Endurance Champion himself and one of the world's most ardent supporters and benefactors of equestrian sport.
The five-day festival comprises four rides in all and got under way on Tuesday with the Ladies Cup, which was won by Omani rider Zamzam Al Hasani. The third event on the Festival's schedule is tomorrow's 120 km Gamilati Endurance Cup for Mares.
The Festival culminates on February 22, with the showpiece His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup, a 160km ride designed to test the skill and ability of both horse and rider.
Sign up for the Daily Briefing
Get the latest news and updates straight to your inbox
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Int'l Cricket Council
2 hours ago
- Int'l Cricket Council
South Africa tune up ahead of the WTC25 Final
Ahead of the all-important Ultimate Test against Australia at Lord's in a week, the South Africa players hit the ground running in a warm-up fixture against Zimbabwe in Arundel. Even as the two African sides feature in the practice game, the South African minds were focussed on the Australian challenge ahead. Speaking on the tussle to follow this contest, opening batter Aiden Markram outlined the Proteas' mindset for the World Test Championship Final. "I think it's the collective decision for each guy to bring their best skill. It's going to be a tough game," Markram told ICC Digital. "It's a Test match, of course, against Australia and a Dukes ball, Lord's, all those sorts of things, but ultimately, the guys have a skillset that have got them here, got them selected, throughout the cycle performed as well, doing those skills. "So it's about backing that, our best skill versus their (Australia's) best skill, and we'll see where it lands us at the end of the day." The first day of the encounter was washed out, but the Proteas got much-needed game practice on Day 2. The South Africa batters got a good workout after the side opted to bat in the warm-up clash. Despite losing Aiden Markram for 13 early in the day, the Proteas batting unit picked it up as half-centuries from Ryan Rickelton, skipper Temba Bavuma, and in-form Tristan Stubbs led them to a formidable total of 313/2, following which they declared their innings. Rickelton (62 off 93), Bavuma (58 off 85) and Stubbs (58 off 120) displayed their class with the bat, with a variety of shots catching eyes as the Proteas aim to go all-out to secure their first ICC trophy since 1998. There were suggestions that the Proteas had zeroed in on Wiaan Mulder as their No. 3 batter, with the player walking out after Markram's loss early in the innings. He added 26 runs during his resolute knock at the crease. As several batters opted to retire hurt not out, as many as nine South Africa batters got an opportunity to feature in the first innings. Walking in at six & seven respectively were Tony de Zorzi and David Bedingham, who contributed with 28 and 23 in Arundel. Following South Africa's declaration at 313/2, Zimbabwe's time with the bat got off to a shaky start with Kagiso Rabada getting rid of Brian Bennett for 15. Rabada and Jansen warmed up quite well with the ball, with the duo sharing the opening eight overs and were looking in fine shape as Zimbabwe concluded the day at 48/1 with Nicholas Welch and Sean Williams on the wicket. With two more days of play left, the Proteas will be vying for more valuable time on the field to fine-tune themselves ahead of the challenge against Australia. Scene set for epic World Test Championship Final South Africa and Australia are ready to battle it out in the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord's from June 11 2025


Zawya
3 hours ago
- Zawya
Onshur marks major milestone with graduation of Scale Track cohort
Sharjah, Under the patronage and in the presence of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the Sharjah Publishing Sustainability Fund (Onshur) celebrated the graduation of the first cohort of its 2025 Scale Track at SBA's headquarters. The programme is designed to support established publishers in the UAE in scaling their operations through sustainable and strategic growth. The ceremony honoured twelve publishers who completed the intensive training course. The event was attended by His Excellency H.E. Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, and H.E. Rashid Al Kous, Executive Director of the Emirates Publishers Association, as well as programme partners, experts, trainers, and representatives from local and Arab media. The twelve graduating publishers were selected from a pool of 62 applicants who met rigorous eligibility criteria. These included a demonstrated track record of producing high-quality cultural content and a well-defined strategic vision for expansion aligned with global publishing developments. The graduating cohort comprised Ajyal Publishing, Ghaf Publications, Sidra Publishing and Distribution, Loaloa Publishing and Distribution, Kalman Publishing and Distribution, Nabatti Publishing, Shaheen Printing Publishing and Distribution, Dar Al-Farqad, Dar Shams Publishing, Dar Al Fikr Al Jadeed, Dar Al Bayan Al Arabi, and Noor Publishing. Driving tangible progress for Emirati and Arab publishers Commenting on the occasion, Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SBA, emphasised the importance of empowering UAE publishers to grow and innovate within a sustainable framework. She stated: 'The Scale Track reflects our vision of enabling publishers to move beyond survival, towards a future defined by excellence, creativity, and leadership in enriching the Arab publishing landscape both locally and globally.' She continued: 'I am proud of this cohort, who have shown a remarkable capacity for learning, growth, and openness to new experiences. I believe they are now equipped with the tools and insights needed to build more resilient and adaptable business models. While they represent the current state of Arab publishing, they are equally poised to shape its global future, fuelled by ambition, determination, and a genuine passion for the written word.' Revitalising the future of Arab literature H.E. Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, said: 'What distinguishes these publishers is their clear ambition to grow and their willingness to embrace new tools and ideas that can propel their businesses forward. Their participation in the Scale Track represents a strategic blueprint for the regional publishing sector's expansion, firmly rooted in innovation and sustainability. This vision is inspired by Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi's commitment to cultivating a network of publishers equipped to compete on both regional and global stages, driving a renewed momentum for Arab literature and culture.' Turning vision into actionable success For his part, H.E. Rashid Al Kous, Executive Director of the Emirates Publishers Association, congratulated the graduates and commended their commitment to transforming ambition into tangible results. He said: 'We extend our congratulations to this exceptional cohort, who have exemplified what it means to turn vision into reality. The Scale Track has provided participants with critical skills enabling them to thrive in both local and international markets amid a rapidly evolving publishing landscape.' Laying the foundations for strategic publishing growth The ceremony opened with a keynote speech by Iman Ben Chaibah, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Global Markets at SBA. She highlighted that Onshur is reshaping how support is delivered to publishers by offering a comprehensive strategic framework that fosters long-term, sustainable growth. 'The Scale Track has surpassed the boundaries of traditional training,' she said. 'It has established a professional platform dedicated to enhancing publishers' operational capabilities and deepening their industry expertise.' Unlocking sustained expansion through targeted support Following the directives of Sheikha Bodour, graduates of the Scale Track benefit from a robust package of post-programme support. This includes one year of professional accounting services to ensure compliance, guidance in applying for the Sharjah International Translation Grant, onboarding to Ingram's global distribution network, access to business loans secured against publishing contracts, specialised advisory sessions, and priority access to upcoming Onshur initiatives. These measures are designed to help publishers shift from operational stability to strategic and sustainable expansion.


Sharjah 24
a day ago
- Sharjah 24
Dibba Al Hisn Football Club to return to the Professional League
The club emphasised that the grant constitutes a fundamental pillar in the development of sports infrastructure and achieving sustainability in building strong clubs capable of competing in various fields. In a press statement, the club confirmed that the grant reflects His Highness's commitment to supporting the sports sector and upgrading its facilities, which will contribute to strengthening the capabilities of clubs and developing the performance of teams, most notably the first football team. The club noted that the anticipated stadium will bring about a qualitative shift in the sports performance environment and provide an ideal platform for honing the skills of players and meeting the aspirations of fans. Constant source of inspiration His Excellency Mohammed Abdullah Rashid Al Tarban, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dibba Al Hisn Football Club, praised the unlimited support that sports in the emirate receives from His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah. He noted that His Highness's continuous generosity represents a constant source of inspiration and motivation for athletes and reflects an integrated development vision based on empowering youth and elevating sports institutions to the highest levels. Al Tarban also expressed the club's great appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Executive Council; His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Deputy Chairman of the Executive Council; and His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah. He commended their continued support, which has had the greatest impact in consolidating the institutional structure of the sports sector across the emirate. The Chairman of the Club's Board of Directors indicated that the 2024-2025 sports season marked a historic milestone in the journey of the first team, which competed in the ADNOC Professional League for the first time and succeeded in delivering outstanding performances that earned the respect and appreciation of the sports community, despite the significant challenges it faced throughout the tournament. Valuable lessons Al Tarban emphasised that the team's positive results, the players' heroic performance, and the tactical discipline on the field are all indicators of technical maturity and tangible development in collective performance. He pointed out that the team's failure to continue in the Professional League, despite competing until the final round, was due to circumstances beyond its control in some crucial matches. However, the experience remains a source of pride and valuable lessons upon which the team's future will be built. Al Tarban apologised to the club fans for the past, emphasising that the coming period will be a time of progress, continuity, and perseverance. Time for reorganisation In preparation for the new season, the club announced the implementation of a comprehensive plan to reorganise the team's ranks. This plan began with renewing confidence in Egyptian coach Captain Tarek El Sayed, who had previously successfully led the team in previous stages and demonstrated his technical skills and tactical ability to keep pace with the requirements of the First Division. New players Al Tarban explained that the club succeeded in retaining the most prominent foreign players who had contributed significantly during the previous season such as Medna, Alion, and Vitor, while also seeking to strengthen the team's ranks with new players who would contribute to creating a technical balance and preparing it to achieve its goal of returning to the Premier League. External training camps Al Tarban pointed out that the management is currently studying several options for holding an external training camp during the preparation period. The proposed destinations include Serbia, Turkey, and the Arab Republic of Egypt. The goal is to enhance the team's physical and technical readiness and build harmony among the team members before the start of official competitions. The club also extended its thanks and appreciation to His Excellency Issa Hilal Al Hazami, Chairman of the Sharjah Sports Council (SSC), for its continuous support of the first team and all the club's sports teams. He emphasised that this support has directly contributed to achieving numerous gains and has instilled confidence and motivation among the players and the technical and administrative staff. Back to the Professional League Concluding his statement, the Chairman of the Dibba Al Hisn Club Board of Directors emphasised that the club will continue to work with determination and resolve to return to the Professional League through an integrated administrative and technical system, a strategy based on investing in talent, and long-term planning. He noted that the dream has not stopped, and that the next season will be an opportunity to return to the top ranks, with the support of the fans, the solidarity of the city's residents, and the team's unwavering will to achieve the impossible.