ABU DHABI // Abdullah Al Marri and his 10-year-old mare Sama Dubai have emerged as the UAE’s hope to book a passage in next year’s FEI World Equestrian Games in the United States.
His chances of qualifying from tonight’s CEI 4-Star Grand Prix event, the finale of the inaugural Al Shira’aa International Horse Show at the Al Forsan International Sports Resort, has got the backing of Sheikha Latifa bint Ahmed and the American coach Alice Debany-Clero.
“He’s got the best chance out of the Emirati riders,” said Sheikha Latifa, Al Marri’s national teammate and winner of an individual silver and team bronze in successive Asian Games, as well as the UAE’s flag bearer in the last World Games in 2014.
“You really need to have a good horse to qualify and Abdullah has that in Sama Dubai. They have had a long association and it’s time for the combination to click.”
Debany-Clero added: “She [Sama Dubai] is definitely of this quality and experience level that I would like her to jump in the Games, and soon. I have been in the UAE for 12 years and seen a lot of potential Emirati riders to reach this level. Abdullah is one of them.”
Al Marri, 32, goes into the Dh1 million Grand Prix event, which begins at 6.30pm, full of confidence.
“Qualifying for the Grand Prix was the tough part and that we have managed to do that. Now we are confident we can take that momentum forward,” Al Marri said.
“My association with Sama Dubai goes back to when she was four. We share an awesome relationship and we know each other very well. We have started with small jumps and have reached this level.”
The ideal age for a showjumping horse to reach the peak is between 11 and 12 but Al Marri believes the mare he rides has reached that level already.
“Yes, normally for these competitions you need a horse around 11 or 12 years old but I know she has the ability at 10,” he said.
“She has always responded well and risen to the challenge. If not from this competition, perhaps from the 5-Star in Al Ain.
“For me, it’s important to do well and qualify from a competition in front of the home fans. In fact, doing well here would attract more people to the sport. It will be good to get good backing from the home fans.”
Al Marri was a member of the UAE that won a team bronze at the 2006 Asian Games in Qatar. He has competed at the 2008 FEI Showjumping World Cup, winning both the Young Horse Class with Alaska and the Big Tour class with Randor K.
apassela@thenational.ae
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