Qatar’s Sheikh Ali bin Khalid al-Thani and his 11-year-old mare, Carolina 31, put on a splendid show to clinch the feature event at the HH The Emir’s Sword International Showjumping Championship yesterday.
Cheered on by a vociferous home crowd, Sheikh Ali rose to the occasion as he guided Carolina 31 to a thrilling win in the CSI5*160cm class at the Qatar Equestrian Federation’s outdoor arena.
After two rounds of intense competition, 18 riders out of 27 in the field qualified for the jump-off, with €153,700 of total prize money at stake. Sheikh Ali and Carolina 31 had so far had a below-par outing in the championship but were in their elements yesterday.
The pair proved to be a formidable combination as they galloped the long course and jumped clear with a faultless round, stopping the clock at an impressive 41.90 seconds. While the other riders tried to beat Sheikh Ali’s time, they faltered by picking up faults on a difficult course.
Sheikh Ali and Carolina 31 had also triumphed at the Al Rayyan Championship in December, and the pair repeated the feat to a thunderous applause on an overcast evening.
Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Alsharbatly and his 14-year-old gelding Domingo had to settle for the runner-up spot. The pair was quicker, topping the timings in 39.63 seconds but committed four faults, which pushed them to second place. Turkey’s Derin Demirsoy was third with Harry K, the four faults he incurred dashing his victory hopes.
“We were well prepared for the championship. She is always a good horse and I really believe in her. So when I ride good, she always jumps good and that is what happened today,” said a delighted Sheikh Ali, paying full credit to his mare for the victory.
“I was really focused to do well in this class. I jumped with Carolina 31 two days back and she jumped very good. She gave me a good feeling that she will be in good form today. And thank God she was in fine form. It was a very good class, but at the same time when you have a good horse everything becomes easier,” the Qatari show-jumper added.
The 34-year-old rider, who finished sixth at the Rio Olympics last year, said yesterday’s triumph was an important milestone in his career as HH The Emir’s Sword Championship is a very prestigious event for Qataris.
“It’s my home turf and also this is His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani’s event. So it is important for us as Qataris and I am very pleased I could win it for our people,” said Sheikh Ali, who took home HH The Emir’s Sword and €50,721 in prize money.
The star Qatari rider said his next target is to do well in this week’s CHI Al Shaqab and other important events in Europe and the World Cup Finals to be held in the United States next month.
Meanwhile, Emanuele Gaudiano took his second win in two days after the Italian rider stormed to victory in the CSI5* One round against the clock 155 class. Gaudiano and his 11-year-old stallion Caspar 232 flew around the course to finish in 76.37 seconds, securing a comfortable victory, which gave the Italian €22,975 in prize money.
The battle for the second place went down to the wire though. Spain’s Pilar Lucrecia Cordon (Armani Des Maraichers) pipped Alsharbatly (Woulon L) by a mere three hundredth of a second in 80.65. It was Alsharbatly’s fourth podium finish in the championship, though the Saudi rider must have been disappointed not to convert any into victory.
In the CSI2* events, Kuwaiti Rakan al-Hasawi, representing FEI, and Saad Alajmi of Saudi Arabia took the top honours. Al-Hasawi won in the 145cm class with Dennis, the pair coming home in 34.83 seconds. The second and third place went to Qatar’s Khejaim Faraj al-Marri (Monopoly) and Sheikh Khalifa al-Thani (Sidoline van de Centaur) respectively.
Earlier, Alajmi and Alex Ludine S had combined to score a narrow win in the 135cm class, in a timing of 60.21 seconds. Kuwait’s Latifa al-Othman (Kajaszo Molokai) was second, while Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Alghamdi (Dageraad) finished third.
Results
CSI5*, Grand Prix Two Rounds with Jump Off FEI Art. 273.3.4.1 & 273.4.4 + 273.2.2 + Annex VIII art.6, 160 cm Prize Money €153,700
1. Sheikh Ali bin Khalid al-Thani (Qatar) CAROLINA 31. Time: 41.90 seconds. Prize money: € 50,721
2. Abdullah Alsharbatly (Saudi Arabia) Domingo. 39.63 secs. €30,740
3. Derin Demirsoy (Turkey) Harry K. €23,055
CSI5*, Table A, One round against the clock, Art. 238.2.1, 155 cm — Prize money: €91,900
1. Emanuele Gaudiano (Italy) Caspar 232. Time: 76.37 seconds. Prize money: €22,975
2. Pilar Lucrecia Cordon (Spain) Armani Des Maraichers. 80.65 secs. €18,380
3. Abdullah Alsharbatly (Saudi Arabia) Woulon L. 80.68 secs. €13,785
CSI2*, Table A, One round against the clock with jump off, Art. 238.2.2, 145 cm — Prize money: €24,600
1. Rakan al-Hasawi (FEI) Dennis. Time: 34.83 seconds. €6,150.
2. Khejaim Faraj al-Marri (Qatar) Monopoly. 38.21 secs. €4,920
3. Sheikh Khalifa al-Thani (Qatar) Sidoline van de Centaur. 38.85 secs. €3,690
CSI2*, Table A, One round against the clock, Art. 238.2.1, 135 cm — Prize money: 12,000
1. Saad Alajmi (Saudi Arabia) Alex Ludine S. Time: 60.21 seconds. Prize money: €3,000
2. Latifa al-Othman (FEI) Kajaszo Molokai. 60.88 secs. €2,400
3. Abdullah Alghamdi (Saudi Arabia) Dageraad. 62.33 secs. €1,800