Victorious equestrian team rider Fahd Helal Al Khateri has won the qualifying race for the 2020-2021 endurance season.
Al Khateri finished the 80-100-kilometre race clocking 3:47:32, followed by Khalid Ibrahim (04:04:30) and the Al Fursan team (04:06:29).
The race, held at the Bahrain International Endurance Village under the patronage of His Majesty the King’s representative for humanitarian work and youth affairs, Supreme Council for Youth and Sport chairman and Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) honorary president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, saw riders representing different stables compete in three stages (40 + 30 +30).
Shaikh Nasser said that the qualifying race is among the most important ones, as it sets the stage for scheduled championships and provides stables, jockeys and trainers the opportunity to prepare for the new endurance season.
He hailed the success of the opening race, praising the large participation of stables and jockeys which, he said, augurs well for the coming events.
He praised the technical performance of the jockeys, who finished the race and confirmed their readiness for the season which promises to be more competitive than the previous ones.
Shaikh Nasser also commended the efforts of Breef, headed by Shaikh Isa bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, and its committees.
The event was held amid precautionary measures for combating Covid-19.