“I owe this success to my father (Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan),” he told reporters as he became the second UAE rider after Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, in 2002, to win the world title.

“As a child my father would spend all his time watching me and my brother Shaikh Khalid take part in the junior rides and later in the open races. He was my inspiration and encouraged both of us."

Shaikh Hazza crossed the finish line of the 160km race astride Hachim in a record time seven hours, three minutes and 22 seconds to win.

Shaikh Hazza bin Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan said he is pleased to present the great success to the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the peoples of the United Arab Emirates.

“I’m really pleased that we were able to defend our title,” Shaikh Hazza said later.

“There was nothing easy in the six stages of the competition. All the riders were under pressure from start to finish,” Shaikh Hazza said when asked whether the French rider Barbara Lissarague has put him under pressure in the closing stages of the race.

“In fact, my brother Shaikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Nahyan warned me right from the start about the French riders, saying that they have brought some quality horses and they may win the race,” he explained.

Shaikh Hazza said they have been preparing his 11-year-old bay gelding Hachim since last summer.

“Hachim was always impressing me. He began to show his stamina from gate four and in the final loop he was picking up very nicely and moved from third to first very easily,” he said.