Qatar’s al-Emadi, Zorro Z take opening day honours

‘It was a great win. I am very happy with my horse’s performance on the first day and we are looking forward to the next two days’Qatar’s Salman Mohamed al-Emadi put on an excellent round with Zorro Z to emerge triumphant on day one of the QNB Qatar International Show Jumping Championship.At the Qatar Equestrian Federation’s outdoor arena yesterday, the young Qatari rider surprised the experienced field, which consisted of Derin Demirsoy of Turkey and Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander, to clinch the feature event – the two-phased 145cm class. The 16-year-old Zorro Z, who was in the past ridden by Edwina, gave al-Emadi a night he won’t forget in a hurry as the gelding showed utmost agility through the course to clock the fastest time of 35.34 seconds. Past winners here, Demirsoy and Edwina had to be content with second and third place respectively on the night. Al-Emadi, who pocketed €6,765 for his victory, was delighted with the victory and was already looking to the next two days of competitions. “It was a great win. I am very happy with my horse’s performance on the first day and we are looking forward to the next two days of competition. My horse jumped really great. That’s what I was expecting from Zorro Z. I hope it can continue in the way. When I entered the competition, I was ready. Now we are looking forward to the next competition in this championship,” al-Emadi said.Demirsoy also enjoyed a good round with Dadjak Ter Puttenen but the pair had to settle for second place, having clocked 36.87 seconds. “It was a great start for me and my horse. It was a good day,” said Demirsoy, who took home €4,920 in prize money. “You know never know in this sport but today everything went according to plan. I am competing with the same horse (today),” the Turkish rider added.Two-time Global Champions Tour winner Edwina and Veronese Teamjoy came home in 38.32 seconds for a third-place finish, which fetched the veteran Australian rider €3,690. “I have a young horse. She is just eight. She was on the plane for the first time. So it is a good result. I will try two more horses over the course of this event,” Edwina said.Qatar’s Bassem Hassan Mohamed was unable to replicate his famous GCT victory at Al Shaqab last weekend. Bassem mounting The Toymaker could only finish eighth, having taken 41.91 seconds to complete the round.Earlier, Qatari rider Salmeen Sultan al-Suwaidi astride Guilder’s Empire of The Sun cruised to victory in the 130/135cm class. Al-Suwaidi marshalled his 8-year gelding perfectly for a comprehensive win in a time of 58.75 seconds. Awad al-Qahtani, astride Cassander Van Het Bremhof, secured the second spot in a time of 64.26 seconds. In third place was Kuwait’s Ali al-Khorafi, who riding under the FEI flag guided Cheril home in 64.54 seconds. In the championships’ opening competition, Qatar riders made a clean sweep of podium in the 120cm class, which also had riders from Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Pakistan and Kuwait.Saeed Nasser al-Qadi, who has been in fine form in the National Series Hathab, continued his winning run in the international event too. Al-Qadi topped the timesheets with his go-to horse, 15-year-old gelding Jessico 4 to take the victory in 24.17 seconds.Compatriot Mohammad al-Ghazali, astride Jackson 58, finished in second spot in a time of 26.73 seconds, while Ghanim Nasser al-Qadi and Fudine finished third in 27.27 seconds. ResultsTable A, Special Two Phases FEI Art. 274.5.6 | Max. 145 cm | Prize money €24,600 1. Salman Mohamed al-Emadi (Qatar) Zorro Z. Time: 35.34 secs, Prize money: €6,765 2. Derin Demirsoy (Turkey) Dadjak Ter Puttenen. 36.87. €4,9203. Edwina Tops-Alexander (Australia)  Veronese Teamjoy. 38.32 secs. €3,690.Table A, Against the clock FEI Art. 238.2.1 | Max. 130/135 cm | Prize Money €8,0001 Salmeen Sultan al-Suwaidi (Qatar) Guilder’s Empire of The Sun. Time: 58.75secs, Prize money: €2,0002. Awad al-Qahtani (Qatar) Cassander Van Het Bremhof. 64.26secs. €1,600 3. Ali al-Khorafi (Kuwait) Cheril. 64.54secs. €1,200Table A, Two Phases FEI Art. 274.5.3 | Max. 120 cm | Prize money: €5,600 1. Saeed Nasser al-Qadi (Qatar) Jessico 4. Time: 24.17secs. Prize money: €1,400 2. Mohamed al-Ghazali (Qatar) Jackson 58. 26.73secs. €1,120.003. Ghanim Nasser al-Qadi (Qatar) Fudine. 27.27secs. €840.00Today’s Schedule13:30: Table A, Against the clock with Jump 120 cm15:30: Table A, Against the clock with Jump Off 135 cm18:00: Qualifying competition for the FEI World Cup Table A, Against the clock 145 cm.