By Rizwan Rehmat
DOHA: Frenchman Kevin Staut yesterday savoured an amazing run with ‘reliable mare’ Elky van het Indihof Hdc to claim victory in the feature event on day one of the CHI Al Shaqab.
The veteran rider guided his 12-year-year-old mare to top the 150cm class.
Elky van het Indihof Hdc clocked a time of 55.85 seconds as Staut picked up the top prize of €24,000.
Ireland’s Bertram Allen finished in second place after his ride Molly Malone clocked a time of 56.93 seconds. Allen won €18,400.
Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet enjoyed a neat routine with Oh d’Eole, clocking a time 58.14 seconds to finish third. Wathelet won €13,800.
“When you have a win like this so early at the start of a competition like this, you get a lot of motivation,” Staut said.
“I am really happy for my mare. It was a difficult routine but she managed it so well,” the Frenchman said. “I am very happy to get this win,” he added.
“When you start like this, it is a good thing for the rest of the days,” Staut said. “It gives me a good rhythm for the weekend,” the Frenchman said.
“I know I have a very reliable, very competitive mare. I am happy,” Staut said.
Roger Yves Bost (Sydney Une Prince, 59.03 seconds) and Olivier Philippaerts (H&M Challenge V. Begijnakker, 59.11 seconds) and completed the top five in the feature event.
Earlier, Irish rider Allen guided Quarto Mail to a credible win in the 1.45cm class to claim the top prize of €6250.
Quarto Mail clocked an impressive time of 26.53 seconds in the two-phased run.
Qatar’s Rio-bound riding star Bassem Hassan Mohammed produced a neat run with Argelith Squid who finished second in a time of 26.73 seconds.
Mohammed picked up €5000 for his remarkable routine.
Germany’s Hans-Dieter Dreher also produced a flawless routine with Colore to grab the third spot worth €3750.
Saudi rider Abdullah Alsharbatly (Wasabi, 27.70 seconds) and Belgium’s Pieter Devos (Equipharma Dax van d’Abdijhoeve, 28.38 seconds) completed the top five.
Alsharbatly won €2500 while Devos bagged €1750.
Earlier in competition 2 which was part of the QNB Doha Tour series, Ali Al Khorafi guided Cheril to a convincing winning run in the 1.45cm class.
Cheril clocked a time of 60.42 seconds as Al Khorafi claimed the top prize of €6250 to go along with the sum of €2400 he picked up the first competition of the day.
Saudi duo of Khaled Abdulaziz Al Eid and Ramzy Hamad Al Duhami grabbed the second and third places respectively.
Al Eid, astride Valuta S, finished in second spot. Valuta clocked a time of 60.52 seconds while Al Duhami guided Al Capone to the third place in a time of 60.93 seconds.
Al Eid picked up €5000 while Al Duhami took home €3750.
Qatar’s Hamad Nasser Al Qadi (S I E C Lonnie, 63.77 seconds) and Frenchman Frederic David (Baloussini, 63.94 seconds) completed the top five in the 1.45cm class.
Al Qadi won €2500 while David got €1750.
In competition 1, which was also part of QNB Doha Tour series, Qatar’s Saeed Naser Al Qadi kicked off the proceedings with a near-perfect routine with Jessico to claim the honours in the day’s opening context.
Jessico clocked a time of 24.12 seconds to top the field in the 44-entry competition as Al Qadi sealed the deal with his prize money of €3000.
Ali Al Khorafi, riding under the FEI banner, guided Ungarin 4 to the second spot in a time of 25.27 seconds in the 1.30cm class.
Egypt’s Saed Saad emerged a surprise podium finished after guiding Benshouf to third spot in a time of 26.39 seconds.
Al Khorafi picked up €2400 for his second-place finish while Saad got richer by €1800.
Qatar’s Salman Mohammed Al Emadi - astride Lucky Lady - and Saudi rider Bader Mohammed Alfard completed the top-five in the first competition.
Al Emadi picked up €1200 while Alfard got richer by €840.The Peninsula
