Deusser wins thrilling CSI5* prestigious speed class in Doha
A last moment splendid effort by Germany’s Daniel Deusser decided a thrilling CSI5* speed class on Wednesday in CHI AL SHAQAB 2015, Doha.
The reigning World Cup title holder cleared all the 1,50m obstacles 0,76 seconds faster than any of the 41 riders on Day 3 of the most prestigious worth 92,000 Euro event.
Although Deusser didn’t have his World Cup winning partner Cornet D’ Amour by his side, and rode the 11-year-old mare Espyrante, he managed to beat his rivals with a large margin.
The victory slipped out of the hands of Belgium’s former junior star, Gregory Wathelet, who by clocking 57:43 on Egano van het Slogenhof eclipsed Sweden’s Henrik bon Eckermann’s and For Sale 6 temporary 58:95 lead. That time, the first below 59 seconds, inspired the last 13 riders on the start list to push hard in the end for a high placing, but the tricky last double obstacle before the finish line, denied everyone’s chances apart from Deusser’s and Wathelet’s.
The top Qatari performance came from Khalid Mohammed A S Al Emadi who clocked 59:67 to rank seventh with Utascha SFN.
DELESTRE SHINES AT FIRST CSI5* COMPETITION
Simon Delestre riding the SF Stardust Quinhon, caused a minor surprise by overwhelming a strong field to claim the first CSI5* 25,000 prize at AL SHAQAB 2015.
The 33-year-old Frenchman was the 37th rider to test the course, and managed to beat Britain’s speedy Laura Renwick and her young gelding Rembrandt Blue, who had previously established an early lead, by a mere 0,07 seconds.
Third place went to Ireland’s Denis Lynch and Ho Go Van de Padenborre, who finished in 37:00, but the rider who stole the show was clearly fifth ranked Omer Karaevli and Dadjak Ter Puttenen from Turkey.
The world’s No. 1 Scott Brash on Hello Sanctos decided –as did other top riders – to retire before he concluded the course, but that happened due to his late arrival in Doha:
“I didn’t want to make myself or my horse tired and I simply wanted to see what the course was like, for the upcoming events”, explained Brash.
The fastest of all though was Qatar’s Hamad Ali Mohamed A Al Attiyah on Appagino, but his 35:98 clocking was charged with a four-point penalty after he hit the penultimate double fence, clearly the hardest for all contestants. Therefore the top Qatari in the final ranking was Ali Yousef Al Rumaihi with Eurocommerce California finishing in 10th .
ABDUL RAHMAN MOHAMMED M AL MARRI WON THE SMALL CLASS
Qatar celebrated its first CHI AL SHAQAB 2015 victory after only two jumping events, with Abdul Rahman Mohammed M Al Marri topping the CSI3* against the clock competition with the bar in all obstacles set at 1,45m.
Al Marri made a flawless effort riding on Sidoline van de Centaur and crossed the finish line in 60:22, more than two seconds faster than his countryman Salman Mohammed A S Al Emadi who ranked second along with SIEC Cosmos Wijngaardhoeve Z.