An Analysis of a Possible Bahrain Team for the 2026 WEC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

SOURCE: ENDURANCE.NET

January 30 2026

As of December 9, 2025, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) holds the status of the "Desert Giants" and the primary obstacle standing between Bahrain and the Gold Medal.

While Bahrain currently holds the individual title (Sheikh Nasser), the UAE arguably has the deepest roster of desert-specialist horses in the world. Their performance at the recent "test" races in AlUla proves they are fully adapted to the specific Saudi terrain.

Here is the detailed status of the UAE Team ("The Knights") for the 2026 cycle:

1. Current Team Status: The "Silver" Avengers

The UAE is currently the Vice-World Champion.

• Monpazier 2024: They won the Team Silver Medal and the Individual Silver Medal (Saeed Ahmad Jaber Al Harbi), finishing just seconds behind Bahrain’s Sheikh Nasser.

• Motivation: Second place is rarely enough for the UAE major stables (M7, F3, MRM). They are entering the 2026 cycle with a point to prove: that they, not Bahrain, are the true kings of desert endurance.

2. The "AlUla Proof" (February 2025)

The most significant data point for the 2026 Championship occurred earlier this year in February 2025, during the Mutadil Endurance Cup (160km) held on the actual AlUla course.

• The Result: The UAE team M7 Stables utterly dominated this race.
• The Winner: Salem Hamad Saeed Malhouf Al Kitbi (the 2021 World Champion) won the race in 7 hours 49 minutes, proving he has the exact horse power needed for this specific track.

• The Backup: His teammate Saeed Al Khayari finished just one second behind him. This 1-2 finish on the host track makes them the statistical favorites for the 2026 Team Gold.

3. Key Contenders ("The Super Stables")

Unlike European nations where riders own their horses, the UAE team is selected from massive royal stables.

• Salem Hamad Saeed Al Kitbi:
• Status: A former World Champion (2021) and the winner of the 2025 AlUla test event. He is the safest bet for a team anchor.
• Stable: M7 Endurance Stables (owned by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum).
• Saeed Ahmad Jaber Al Harbi:
• Status: The reigning World Silver Medalist (2024).⁴ He proved in France that he can chase Sheikh Nasser and stay sound.

• Stable: F3 Stables (owned by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum).
• Saif Al Mazrouei:
• Status: Winner of the 2025 Royal Windsor Endurance (UK) and a specialist in fast, flat tactical races.

4. Strategic Outlook for AlUla

• Team Tactics: The UAE usually employs a "Pack Strategy." They will likely send 3-4 riders to the front to pressure the Bahraini leader (Sheikh Nasser). If Bahrain's leader breaks, the UAE pack is there to sweep the podium.
• Terrain Mastery: The AlUla course (sand mixed with technical rocky sections) is very similar to the UAE's training grounds in Marmoom and Wathba. They require zero acclimatization.
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Summary of the "Big Three" Rivalry for 2026

Nation	Strength	Weakness	Prediction
Bahrain	Star Power. Sheikh Nasser is the fastest rider in the world right now.	High Risk. If Nasser goes too fast and vets out, the team morale often collapses.	Individual Gold Favorite.
UAE	Depth. They have 10 riders capable of winning. They won the 2025 AlUla test event easily.	Internal Rivalry. Sometimes the different stables (F3 vs M7) race each other too hard.	Team Gold Favorite.
France	Discipline. They ride perfectly to heart-rate targets.	Terrain. They are experts in mud/hills (Europe), not deep sand/heat.	Podium Spoiler. (Will win if Gulf teams run too fast).

An Analysis of a Possible Bahrain Team for the 2026 WEC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

SOURCE: ENDURANCE.NET

January 27 2026

As of December 9, 2025, Bahrain holds the status of the Individual Favorite and the most aggressive challenger for the Team title.

Bahrain’s "Royal Endurance Team" is currently the most formidable offensive force in the sport, led by the single most dominant rider in the world today. While France relies on consistency and depth, Bahrain relies on star power and sheer speed.

Here is the detailed status of the Bahraini Team ("Victorious") for the 2026 cycle:

1. Current Team Status: The Reigning Kings

Bahrain enters the 2026 cycle with the ultimate confidence booster: they hold the Individual World Championship title.

• The "Nasser" Era: The team is built entirely around HH Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who is currently the back-to-back World Champion (winning in Butheeb 2023 and Monpazier 2024).
• The "Double Gold" Goal: While they hold the Individual title, Bahrain missed out on the Team Gold in 2024 (which went to France). Their primary objective for AlUla 2026 is to secure the "Double Gold" (Team + Individual), proving they can finish with three riders, not just one.

2. Key Contenders ("The Royal Squad")

The Bahraini team is unique because it operates almost like a professional Formula 1 team, with a massive stable of horses based in both Bahrain and the UK (at their private facility in Newmarket).

• HH Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa: The Team Captain and Reigning World Champion.
• Status: He is the overwhelming favorite for Individual Gold in 2026.
• Horse Power: He has a rotation of elite superstars, including Everest la Majorie (his 2024 Gold Medal horse) and Darco la Majorie (his 2023 Gold Medal horse). He will likely ride whichever of these two legends is soundest, or debut a new "super horse" kept secret until the event.
• Jaafar Mirza:
• Status: A reliable senior rider for the team who often rides the "second string" horse to ensure a backup plan if Sheikh Nasser encounters trouble.
• The "Victorious" Stable Riders: The team employs a roster of professional jockeys (often including international riders who have naturalized or ride under the Bahraini flag for the event). Expect to see names like Cecilia Garcia (Uruguay) or other top international talent potentially piloting Bahraini horses if rules permit, though the core team will be Bahraini nationals.

3. Strategic Outlook for AlUla

• Home Court Advantage: Although AlUla is in Saudi Arabia, the terrain (desert/sand/rock) is virtually identical to the training grounds in Bahrain. Unlike the French or Spanish who must acclimatize, the Bahraini horses live in these conditions.
• Speed Strategy: Bahrain does not ride for "safe" completions. They ride to break the field. Expect Sheikh Nasser to set a blistering pace (24+ km/h loops) from the very start.
• Risk: This high-risk strategy is why they often win Individual Gold but lose Team Gold (due to vet-outs).
• Correction: For 2026, analysts expect a slightly more measured approach from the supporting riders to ensure they get the three completion scores needed for the Team medal.

Summary of the "Gulf Rivalry"

• Bahrain: The Individual Champions. Aggressive, fast, led by a Royal superstar.
• UAE: The Historical Giants. Deepest string of desert horses in the world. (Bahrain's main rival).
• Saudi Arabia: The Hosts. Rising fast with massive government investment.

An Analysis of a Possible Australia Team for the 2026 WEC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

SOURCE: ENDURANCE.NET

January 22 2025

As of December 9, 2025, Australia holds the status of a highly capable but logistically challenged contender.

While Australian riders possess the horsemanship and tough, hard-footed horses necessary to succeed in the AlUla terrain, the "Green and Gold" team faces the most significant geographical and financial hurdles of any major endurance nation.

Here is the detailed status of the Australian Team ("The Aussies") for the 2026 cycle:

1. Current Team Status: The "Expression of Interest" Phase

Equestrian Australia (EA) is currently deep in its administrative preparation.

• Selection Policy: The official 2026 Selection Policy was approved in May 2025. A call for "Expressions of Interest" (EOI) for riders, chefs d'equipe, and vets closed earlier this year (February 2025). The High Performance squad is now monitoring those who put their hands up.
• Self-Funding Challenge: Unlike the fully state-funded teams of the UAE or Bahrain, Australian riders often have to largely self-fund the massive cost of transporting horses from Australia to the Middle East. This financial barrier often means the best horses don't always travel; only the best horses with funding do.

2. Key Contenders ("The Watch List")

The current form guide for Australia is dominated by the results of the 2025 Tom Quilty Gold Cup (held in May 2025 in Tasmania), the nation's premier endurance event.

• Matty & Nikki Sample: The "Power Couple" of Australian endurance.
• Status: They famously crossed the line hand-in-hand to win the 2025 Tom Quilty Gold Cup (Matty on Brookleigh Danu and Nikki on Razorback Blue Avatar).
• AlUla Outlook: The Sample family (Brookleigh stud) has a long history of breeding world-class horses (often exported to the UAE). If they choose to campaign for AlUla, they are the strongest combination of speed and experience Australia has.
• The Toft Family (Penny & Peter Toft):
• Status: Renowned breeders whose horses perform globally. Their stock performed exceptionally well at the 2025 World Young Rider Championships in Romania (where Australian YR Poppy Kettlewell finished 10th and Eadie McWilliam 15th).
• Strategy: Penny Toft often sources or leases horses that are already in Europe/UAE to bypass the travel quarantine, making her a strategic asset for the team.
• Kristie Taprell:
• Status: An absolute legend of the sport who set a record by earning her 22nd Quilty Buckle in 2025 (finishing 7th). Her completion record is unmatched, making her an ideal "anchor" rider for a team result.

3. Strategic Outlook for AlUla

• Terrain Match: The Australian "tough track" horses are actually better suited for AlUla than many European horses. Australian endurance courses (like the Quilty) are notoriously technical and hard, much like the rocky sections of the Saudi desert.
• The "Export" Factor: Similar to Uruguay, Australia is a feeder nation. There is a high probability that Australian riders may lease Australian-bred horses that were previously sold to UAE stables, allowing them to compete on "local" horses without the travel costs.
• Heat Tolerance: Australian horses are acclimated to heat, giving them a distinct physiological advantage over Northern European horses in the Saudi desert.

Summary of the "Oceania" Status

• Strengths: Tough horses, heat adaptation, world-class horsemanship.
• Weaknesses: Extreme travel costs and quarantine logistics.
• Prediction: Likely to field a team, but may rely on leased horses or a small, self-funded elite squad (Sample family).

An Analysis of a Possible Uruguay Team for the 2026 WEC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

SOURCE: ENDURANCE.NET

January 20 2025

As of December 9, 2025, Uruguay enters the 2026 World Championship cycle as a tough, high-performance underdog.

While Brazil often headlines South American endurance due to its volume of riders, Uruguay (along with Chile) consistently punches above its weight class. Historically, they are one of the few nations outside of the "Big Three" (Europe/UAE/Bahrain) capable of cracking the Top 5 or stealing a podium spot if conditions are difficult.

Here is the detailed status of the Uruguayan Team ("La Celeste") for the 2026 cycle:

1. Current Team Status: The "Exporters" Dilemma

Uruguay has a unique status in the endurance world: it is one of the premier breeding grounds for elite endurance horses.

• The Challenge: Many of the best Uruguayan-bred horses are sold to stables in the UAE and Bahrain before they reach championship age. This means Uruguayan riders often face their own horses (ridden by Gulf competitors) at the World Championships.

• The Advantage: Because they breed for the UAE market, Uruguayan riders are intimately familiar with the type of horse that wins in the desert—lean, hard-footed, and heat-tolerant. This makes them naturally suited for the AlUla course.

2. Key Contenders ("The Watch List")

Uruguay relies on a tight-knit group of families who have dominated the sport for decades.

• Pio Olascoaga Amaya: The undisputed leader of Uruguayan endurance.
• Status: A world-class professional who often splits his time between Uruguay and the Middle East (often training horses for UAE stables).
• Role: He serves as the "General" on the course. If he is on the team, Uruguay has a legitimate shot at a top finish because he understands the tactical pace of desert racing better than almost any South American rider.

• Cecilia Garcia & The "Young Rider" Pipeline: Uruguay has a very strong Young Rider program. Expect the 2026 team to feature fresh talent graduating from the Young Rider ranks, likely riding horses that are currently being "saved" from export specifically for this championship.

3. Strategic Outlook for AlUla

• Survival Specialists: Uruguayan horses are famous for their recovery rates. In a race like AlUla, where the heat and deep sand can eliminate 50% of the field, Uruguay’s strategy will be conservative pacing.

• The "Wait and See" Tactic: They will likely ignore the suicidal speed of the Bahraini and Spanish leaders in the first two loops. If the leaders fail vetting in the final stages (Loop 4 or 5), Uruguay will be positioned to move up from 10th place to a Medal position.

Summary of South American Status

• Brazil: The deepest team; likely to ride aggressively.
• Uruguay: The smartest team; likely to ride defensively for completion.
• Chile: The wild card; usually fields 1-2 very strong individual pairs.

An Analysis of a Possible Argentina Team for the 2026 WEC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

SOURCE: ENDURANCE.NET

January 20 2025

As of December 8, 2025, the Federación Ecuestre Argentina (FEA) has not yet announced the final team for the 2026 World Endurance Championship in AlUla.

Given that the event is scheduled for November 2026, the selection process is currently in the active qualification and observation phase. The final squad is typically not confirmed until 4–6 weeks prior to the event (likely October 2026).

However, based on the recent 2025 national calendar and 2024 World Championship cycles, here is the current status of the Argentine selection process:

1. Current Selection Phase: Observation

The FEA is currently using domestic and international CEI events to observe potential horse/rider combinations.

• Key Observation Event (Just Completed): The 2025 National Endurance Championship (Campeonato Nacional de Endurance), which took place in Alberti in October 2025, served as a critical selection trial. Results from this 160 km event will weigh heavily on the "Long List" (Pre-selection squad).
• Qualification Window: Argentine riders are currently working to secure their Certificate of Capability (COC) for the 2026 Championship. This window remains open until September 2026.

2. Likely Contenders ("The Watch List")

While no official list exists, the following athletes and horses have been performing at the elite level (CEI 3* 160km) and are likely central to the federation's plans:

• Mercedes Tapia: One of Argentina's highest-ranked endurance athletes.
• Horse to Watch: Invasor del Reparo. This pair has been a consistent high-performer in FEI rankings (Top 10 world ranking in previous years) and is a strong candidate for the anchor spot on the team.
• Young Rider Graduates: The FEA often promotes top talent from their Young Rider squads (who compete at 120km) to the Senior 160km level during championship years. Look for top finishers from the Alberti nationals to step up.

3. The "AlUla Test Event" Factor

A massive test event was held in AlUla just last week (November 28, 2025) to test the course and infrastructure.

• If Argentine riders participated in this 120km or 160km test ride, they will have a significant advantage in selection due to their familiarity with the unique desert terrain (sand and rock) of AlUla, which is very different from the flat pampas of Argentina.

4. Selection Timeline (Projected)

• Early-Mid 2026: FEA will announce a "Long List" (Pre-seleccionados) of approximately 10–12 riders.
• September 2026: Final qualification deadline.
• October 2026: Announcement of the "Definite Entries" (The final team of 5 riders + reserves).

Summary for the User

For now, the Argentine team is undecided. The most reliable indicator of the future team will be the results from the Alberti 2025 National Championship.