General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence, leads a strong field of riders in today's final stretch of the 140-km Triple Crown Endurance ride.

Sheikh Mohammed, the reigning European Open champion is likely to ride eight-year-old part-Arab chestnut gelding Maldiyo in today's ride at the Dubai Endurance City in Seih Assalem.

More than 30 riders are expected to get off to a mass start at 6am in this CEI-Three Star ride which will also end Dubai's endurance season for 2003-04.

Apart from Sheikh Mohammed, young Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan Al Maktoum, who is currently leading the Triple Crown, will be looking for a good finish in the 140-km event.

Sheikh Rashid leads the pack in the chase for the Triple Crown Series Championship and is closely followed by Rashed Hamad Al Suwaidi.

Sheikh Rashid, who rode Shikira in both the first round and the second and finished third in both, has entered Shikira again.

In addition to Sheikh Mohammed some of the other top contenders are Abdul Rahim Al Juneibi, Majed Khalfan Al Jahouri, Mubarak Khalifa bin Shafya, Hassan bin Ali, Jaber Bittar and Saeed Al Tayer. Among some of the top riders from outside the UAE, Italy's Gianluca Laliscia on Shock, France's Marc le Bervet on Al Rumani and Spain's Jesus Manuel Berna are among the frontrunners.

With the temperatures on the rise over the last fortnight, the riders and horses will have to contend with some tough conditions and the average speed is expected to be much below the usually fast speeds for which the UAE riders are known.

Today's ride will be run in six stages of 32, 29, 26, 19, 19 and 15km.

Today's ride is being sponsored by Omega who have flown in their brand ambassador Anna Kournikova, one of the most glamourous tennis stars.

Kournikova is expected to be present at the Dubai Endurance City where the ride is being held. Today's ride is also expected to attract some of the visitors who are here for Saturday's Dubai World Cup.

Apart from attractive prizes for the top riders the first ten horses finishing within one hour of the first-placed horse will be allowed to take part in the Best Conditioned Horse competition.