Majid, Evita Larzac star as F3 regain Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup

F3 Stables regained the Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup sponsored by Emaar after Majid Jamal Al Mheiri’s executed a textbook perfect ride aboard Evita Larzac during the 120 km event at Dubai International Endurance City on Saturday.

The Crown Prince Endurance Cup concluded the 2025 edition of the Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Festival, which is held in honour of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE.

In winning, Mheiri returned the trophy to the ‘hosts’, who celebrated a podium 1-2 after Rashed Mohamed Al Mehairi’s second-place finish aboard A’Bandom’s Rockabilly.

Milena Mendez, the talented female rider from M7 Endurance Stables, showcased her exceptional skills once again at the festival by securing her second podium finish. Following her remarkable victory in the festival-opening Ladies Ride, Mendez delivered another stellar performance, claiming the bronze medal aboard Bullio Peru and solidifying her reputation as a rising star in endurance riding.

Majid completed the four loop ride in a time of four hours 10 minutes and 51 seconds (4:10:51) to win by over 35 seconds.

Starting the day with the 10th best overall time after the first loop over 40 km, Majid upped the ante to take the summit during the course of the 35 km second loop.

A calculated drop saw Majid and his mount vacate their position at the top of the leaderboard and sit at third going into the final loop. However, they were right back in the thick of things and won comfortably with Rashed Al Mheiri and his mount finishing a distant second with a time of 4:11:26.

Al Reef Asha rider Saif Ali Khamis held sway at the end of the opening phase aboard Girilambone Meissa, before Majid took over during the second only to make way for M7 Endurance Stables’ Spanish rider Bruna Pujols Aumatell on Bundy Artagnan.

Majid and his 11-year-old mount Evita Larzac, however, were way too good on the day and when asked to deliver, their pairing made optimal use of fitness and tact to win.

Sheikh Rashed Bin Dalmook Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Equestrian Club, presented the top three with their silverware.

Ahmad Al Kaabi, the Deputy General Manager of Dubai Equestrian Club, offered his sincere thanks to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, for their unwavering support for equestrianism and the sport of endurance in particular.

Sheikh Hamdan has an impressive record of achievements. After winning his second successive CISM World Military Endurance Championship in March 2014, he was crowned world champion of the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Normandy, France, organised by the International Equestrian Federation.

The Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Festival, organised by Dubai Equestrian Club in association with the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, comprised four rides in all and started with the Ladies Ride, which was won by Milena Mendez (Poli) for M7 Endurance Stables on Monday.

The Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Festival stands as one of the most prestigious and highly anticipated events in the UAE’s endurance calendar, holding a special place in the hearts of equestrian enthusiasts and riders alike.

Each year, some of the best riders and horses participate in the event. The second event, the Private Stables competition on Wednesday, was claimed by Maitha Mohamed Al Qubaisi (Picnic Park Parisian Dawn) for Zabeel Stables, while the penultimate event, the 120 km Yamamah Endurance Cup for Mares on Thursday, was claimed by M7 Endurance Stables’ Luba Leoni Varela (RO Generala).