The UAE's top show-jumper, Mohammad Al Kumaiti is all set to make his second successive appearance at the prestigious show jumping event of the World Equestrian Games.

The UAE rider will be partnered by Al Mutawakel in the world championship which starts with a training event on the championship course on Monday. On Tuesday the riders will battle it out in the Speed Competition an event for both individuals as well as the team. On Wednesday the riders will get classified both in the team and individual events where the top half will advance. Thursday will be the medal deciding event for the teams while the top 25 riders in the individual event will go for Individual classification on Saturday event. The individual final will be worked off on Sunday and a capacity crowd is expected through the week in this highly successful equestrian games being held in the German city of Aachen.

The Ajman Equestrian Club rider Al Kumaiti had also qualified for the World Endurance Games in Jerez, Spain four years ago. "I have been working very hard and will do my best to keep the UAE flag flying high," said Al Kumaiti after his arrival in Aachen. "The horse has traveled well but I will have to wait for the pre-event veterinary check today," he said from Aachen.

"The sheer experience of competing with the best in the world is by itself a big achievement for me. I hope to use the opportunity to do my best and keep learning," the UAE rider said. Hussein Mohammad Hussein, Secretary General of the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation said it was a big achievement for the UAE rider to qualify for the world championship.

"The UAE stages show jumping competitions throughout the season and encourages riders to take part in international events. "Mohammad Al Kumaiti is a very hard working rider and we wish him the best in this prestigious event," said Hussein. Adnan Sultan, the Head of the Show Jumping Committee at the Federation has been totally responsible for the rider and his horse during the championship.
"We are very happy with the way Mohammad Al Kumaiti and the horse Al Mutawakel have prepared for the championship. So far everything has gone smoothly and now we wish and hope that the UAE rider will come up with a praiseworthy performance," said Adnan Sultan.

SHAIKH SHAKHBOUT WINS JUNIOR EVENT IN FRANCE
	Young Shaikh Shakhbout Bin Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan did the UAE proud with a fantastic victory at the International Junior Championship held in Auvers, France recently. Shaikh Shakhbout won the Grand Prix in the CSI Junior event of this prestigious championship riding Cool Fox. Shaikh Shakhbout and Cool Fox registered a flawless round with a timing of 73.37 seconds to win the first place. The promising young rider from the UAE was in fact in top form throughout the three-day championship. Riding Isian,
Shaikh Shakhbout finished second in the 1.15(two-phase) Special Class event while he also finished third on Cool Fox in the 1.25 Special Class.

The President of the UAE International Race Day was held on a National Holiday at the Wellington Hippodroom.in the Belgium coastal resort of Ostend. It is the premier fixture of the Belgium Arabian Horses racing calendar and attracted a large crowd of Spectators.

Luckily the torrential rain that befell the first Arab race turned to brilliant sunshine as a strong field of eight international runners lined up for the feature race of the meeting The President of the UAE Challenge Derby for 4year old pure bred Arabians.

The colt Daffah owned by HH Sh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan proved to be the class act. The Dutch runner Grace T, who went on to finish fourth, set a strong pace over the opening six furlongs. The French bred and owned Matys, trained in Holland by Karen Van de Bos, was close to the action.

Another French runner Quassila Thabet raced along side Daffah, they were just off the pace lying third and fourth down the back stretch. ..They made their challenge as they turned for home. Quassila drew clear but Daffah accelerated up the outside in the final furlong to win easily by two lengths. HH Sh Mansour won this race last year.

Col Hussein Mohammed Hussein, Secretary General UAE Equestrian & Racing Federation, accepted the trophy on behalf of Sh Mansour from HE Mohammed bin Salem Al Suwardi, the UAE Ambassador to Belgium.

The start of the Abu Dhabi International Championship for 3 year olds, which took place in torrential rain, was delayed when the Dutch entry Paraclett broke through the starting gates unseating her jockey. She eventually finished fifth. This is the first 3 year old race of the current Belgium season of Arab races.

A closely fought finish produced another winner for the UAE. The French bred and trained UAE Nonstop owned by Faisal Seddiq Al Mutawa won by a short head in a photo finish with. the Belgium bred mare. Froda. This mare is the latest protégé of Belgium's leading breeder and trainer Johan Verstrepen.

The generous sponsorship by HH Dr Sh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Chairman of the UAE Equestrian & Racing Federation, it a great incentive to Arabian Racing in Belgium and the whole of Europe.