By Rizwan Rehmat
DOHA: German giant Ludger Beerbaum guided Chiara with great command to win the Al Shaqab Grand Prix for the second time in three years.
The last one out of the blocks in the CSI5* competition, Chiara clocked a time of 48.81 seconds to win the feature event of the four-day equestrian gala at Al Shaqab Arena.
“The way she jumped was really nice. I went last and that was definitely was an advantage. I am very pleased because I beat a strong field. To come back and sit here is a special feeling,” Beerbaum said after the victory.
“My horse came from a two-month break. To come back like this, so clear, is a great feeling. It is a special feeling,” he added.
Beerbaum, 52, got richer by €165,000.
His compatriot Daniel Deusser steered First Class van Eeckelghem to second spot in the jump-off of the two-phased competition.
First Class van Eeckelghem clocked a time of 49.02 seconds as Deusser won €1,00,000.
Codex One, ridden by Germany’s Christian Ahlmann, finished in third spot of the 1.60cm class. Codex One, who suffered 4 penalties, clocked a time of 47.84 seconds.
Ahlmann won €52,500.
Last week’s Emir Sword Meet winner Portugal’s Luciana Diniz finished in fourth place with Fit For Fun 13 after stumbling over an obstacle.
Germany’s Nicola Philippaerts, astride Zilverstar T, finished in fifth spot.
Diniz won €40,000 while Philippaerts took home €30,000.
In the feature dressage event yesterday, Swedish giant Patrik Kittel, 39, bagged the top prize of €25,000 when he guided Deja to win in the Grand Prix Freestyle to Music competition.
Deja got top ranks from the judges to close with a winning tally of 82.550.
Vancouver K, ridden by Irish rider Judy Reynolds, finished second with a score of 79.700.
Zaire, who had Jessica von Bredow-Werndl in the saddle, managed a tally of 79.475.
Reynolds picked up €20,000 while Von Bredow-Werndl got richer by €15,000.
Dutch rider Katja Gevers (Thriller, 74,625, €10,000) and Sweden’s Rose Mathisen (Zuidenwind, 74.600, €6,000) completed the top five in the GP FS class at Al Shaqab Arena.
“The mare that we have these days are really good. I couldn’t be happier,” Kittle said. “Today the presentation was done at the main arena and I was like ‘wow’.”
“What really clicked was the music and how everything turned out,” Kittel said.
“The more I come here, the more impressed I am. I have come here four times and every time I feel amazing,” Kittel said. “Doha is clearly one of the top events in the world and not without reason.”
Earlier in the CSI3* 1.45cm class, Saudi Arabia’s Khaled Abdulrahman Almobty showed he’s a winning visitor to Qatar when he rode Dona Evita to a comfortable win.
Dona Evita clocked a time of 34.70 seconds as Almobty - often seen competing in Doha - picked up the top prize of €11,880.
“I am delighted to win today. My horse is really good and yes, I like coming here,” Almobty said.
“It’s always great to participate in CHI Al Shaqab as it’s a great test for both horse and rider.
This was a big competition and it was always going to be tough to win, but I am very confident in this horse’s ability.
“She has great speed and massive scope and she really enjoys jumping in this environment. It was great to compete today off the back of yesterday, which was another great day for us,” he added.
Egyptian rider Saed Saad guided Triple S to second spot in a time of 35.03 seconds. Saad won €7,200.
Almobty’s compatriot Ramzy Hamad Al Duhami enjoyed a good rider with Bayard van de Villa Theresia. Al Duhami won €5,400 after Bayard van de Villa Theresia clocked the third-best time of 35.06 seconds.
In the CDI5* Grand Prix Special, Britain’s Alice Oppenheimer clinched the deal with a high score of 72.431 as Headmore Delegate stood first in all classes.
Oppenheimer, who breeds and trains her own horses at her family yard, Headmore Stud in Hampshire, exhibited flawless routines with Headmore Delegate to nail the top prize of €5,000.
Beckham, ridden by Sweden’s Marina Mattson, managed a tally of 67.627 to finish second while Kingsley Lucky Dance - who had Belgium’s Julie Leytens - De Deken in the saddle - ended in third place with a score of 66.725.
Mattson won €4,000 while De Deken picked up €3,000.
“My entire experience at CHI Al Shaqab 2016 has been phenomenal. I’ve never participated in a show like this before and then to secure a win has been surreal. I’m completely blown away by the exceptional facilities and the warm hospitality. The groom assigned to my horse has been wonderful,” Oppenheimer said.
“From the start she has taken great care of Headmore Delegate ensuring she adjusts well to her surroundings,” Oppenheimer added.The Peninsula
