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By Rizwan Rehmat
DOHA: Show jumping icon Luciana Diniz believes in listening to her heart.
The popular rider juggled on her choice of the horse before producing a flawless routine with Fit For Fun to win the 2015 Longines Global Champions Tour title after a tense jump-off battle at Al Shaqab Arena.
The 45-year-old opted for Fit For Fun in the season finale as the experienced Portuguese rider stunned Germany’s Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson and Qatar’s Sheikh Ali bin Khalid Al Thani to win the Grand Prix of Doha.
Eleven-year-old Fit For Run, given a preference over Winningmood, clocked a time of 36.01 seconds in a determined ride that outclassed the three other rivals in a jump-off. Diniz picked up the top prize of Euros 148,500.
Fibonacci, ridden by Michaels-Beerbaum, also ran a faultless routine in a time of 36.55secs. Michaels-Beerbaum received Euros 90,000 for her second-place finish.
Casall ASK, who had Bengtsson in the saddle, did not falter in his run either in the jump-off but could only finish third in a time of 37.01secs. Bengtsson picked up Euros 67,500.
Qatar’s Sheikh Khalid - who was one of three home riders in the last 18 - endured eight penalties to miss the podium by a whisker. Sheikh Khalid’s rider First Devision clocked a time of 37.29secs. Sheikh Khalid won Euros 45,000.
World number one Scott Brash of Britain finished in eighth spot as Hello Sanctos clearly lacked finish in his routine at Al Shaqab Arena. Hello Scantos clocked a time of 62.69secs in round two of the season’s final event.
Diniz finished the season with 288 points from 15 events while Brash ended with a tally of 279 points. Bengtsson wound up the 2015 season with 277 points.
Diniz, with a show jumping career full of accolades, said she had to think hard before settling for Fit For Fun for the final day of the 2015 season.
“I admit that at first I didn’t know which horse to choose for today’s competition,” Diniz said. “Then I made a decision with my heart,” Diniz said with an enduring smile after picking up the season bonus of Euros 1m.
“When I started the season, I realised that it is all about us,” Diniz said when asked about her season. “I knew that I can’t focus on other riders. That was my strategy,” she added.
“I just kept on focusing on my horse, on my rides,” Diniz said.
“I did not think what others were doing,” she said. “That was the key for the success today,” she said.
“I am glad that I beat these two fine gentlemen in the final round.
This is my biggest win on what is the 10th edition of the Longines Global Champions Tour. It is a big moment for the Tour also and to win here was one of my goals for the season,” Diniz said.
“I hope I have made my country proud. I am so happy for them that I have done this,” Diniz said. “I want to thank all of my team, my fans and all of the people who made this possible,” DIniz said.
The last one in the four-way jump-off, Diniz needed to produce a flawless routine to outdo Michaels-Beerbaum and Bengtsson. Fit For Fun clearly looked the part as he ran a near-perfect routine to capture the title.
Minutes before the jump-off, Diniz and Fit For Fun were second last to go, and rode a brilliant clear round, the quickest of the riders in round two.
In 2015, Sao Paulo-born Diniz also won Grands Prix in Madrid and Vienna with Winningmood.
Earlier, American rider Lauren Hough produced a clean routine with Royalty Des Isles to seal honours in the final speed class event of the season at Al Shaqab Arena.
Royalty Des Isles maintained a smooth ride and clocked a time of 54.82 seconds to help Hough pick up the first prize of Euros 20,295.
Germany rider Hans-Dieter Dreher guided Colore to the second spot in a time of 55.30secs. Dreher got richer by Euros 12,300.
In a clean ride, Frenchman Simon Delestre brought Chesall home in a time of 55.43secs to secure the third spot. Delestre walked off a prize of Euros 9225.
In the day’s local competition, Qatar’s Rashid Towaim Ali Al Marri sailed to a win with Boyonce in the 1.35/1.40m class. Al Marri won QR6600 after clocking a time of 28.44secs.
Saeed Nasser Al Qadi also emerged with a neat routine as he guided St Lucia to second spot worth QR4000. St. Lucia clocked a time of 28.59 seconds.
Qatar’s Al Marri produced a separate run on Kannada to grab the third spot that was worth QR3000. Kannada clocked a time of 30.26secs.
In the 1.20/1.25m class, Qatar’s Salman Mohammed Al Emadi, astride Lucky Lady, picked up the top prize of QR3300 in a time of 26.99secs.
Jessico, ridden by Al Qadi, finished with a time of 27.04secs. The second spot was worth QR2000.
Cassander van het Bremhof, who had Abdulrahman Al Nasser in the saddle, ran a flawless routine to seal the third place in a time of 29.26secs.
The Peninsula
