By Rizwan Rehmat
DOHA: Experienced rider Vladimir Tuganov yesterday produced a flawless routine with Bluebuster to win the feature competition on the opening day of the Qatar International Show Jumping Championship.
Bluebuster clocked a time of 36.86 seconds in an impressive routine that earned Tuganov, 54, the top prize of QR 74,500 in the 145cm class.
Lintea Tequila, ridden by Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander, finished in second spot in the round against class segment staged at QEF’s Outdoor Arena. Lintea Tequila clocked a time of 37.20 seconds.
Al Capone, who had Saudi rider Ramzy Hamad Al Duhami, finished in third spot in a time of 38.52 seconds.
Edwina won QR 59,600 while Al Duhami got richer by QR 44,700.
Bling Bling 2 (4th, Abdullah Al Sharbatly) and Harry K (5th, Derin Demirsoy) completed the top five riders in what was competition four of the day staged under light rain.
Qatar’s Hamad Al Attiyah (13th, Whitaker), Mubarak Yousuf Al Rumaihi (14th, Vivaldi K) and Saeed Nasser Al Qadi (15th, St Lucia, and 22nd, Desperadito) also featured in the competition.
“It was a great competition,” Tuganov said after finishing the competition in light drizzle.
“I am happy to have done so well. I am always confident going into a competition,” the Muscovite added.
“This is my second time here and I have won my first competition,” Tuganov said.
“I can win every day but we have look at one competition at a time.
Tomorrow (Friday) it would be quite and then I will try again” he said.
“I was good in the jump-off. The obstacles went smooth,” Tuganov said.
In competition three, Jordan’s Ibrahim Hani Bisharat produced his best time in the second stint as he guided Brown Sugar to the top spot in the 145cm class.
Brown Sugar clocked a time of 31.37 seconds in what was a flawless routine. Bisharat picked up the top prize of QR 29,625.
Cha Cha Cha 7 also rocked with a neat routine, helping Saudi rider Al Duhami to the second spot. Cha Cha Cha 7 clocked 32.38 seconds as Al Duhami got richer by QR 23,700.
Chicago 84 - ridden by Saudi Arabia’s Abulrahman Alrajhi - finished in third spot in a time of 33.02 seconds. Alrajhi won QR 17,775.
Counselor (4th, 34.85 seconds) and VDL Fakir (5th, 35.83 seconds) completed the top five in the two-phased class.
Russian rider Tuganov was astride Counselor while Czech Ales Opatrny was in the saddle of VDL Fakir.
Earlier in competition two, Kuwaiti Ali Al Khorafi guided Ungarin 4 to victory with a flawless routine in the 130/135cm class at QEF’s Outdoor Arena.
Ungarin clocked a time of 27.02 seconds as Al Khorafi claimed the top prize of QR2,812.
Annalita, ridden by Noora Al Qaoud, finished in second spot in a time of 28.24 seconds. Al Qaoud got richer by QR2,250.
Al Duhami of Saudi Arabia finished in third spot with Garlic VH Kapelhof (28.66 seconds).
The third spot was worth QR 1,687.
Qatari pair of Sheikh Khalifa Al Thani (4th spot, 32.48 seconds) and Hamad Nasser Al Qadi (32.54 seconds).
Dolce Vita M had Sheikh Khalifa in the saddle while SIE C Lonnie was ridden by Al Qadi.
In competition one - held in the morning session under bright sunshine - Saudi rider Naser Al Shawwaf emerged an easy winner with Seoul in the 120cm class.
Qatar’s Mohammad Al Ghazali powered Caresse to second spot in a time of 26.49 seconds.
Saudi rider Meshary Ahumaidi Alharbi was in the saddle to guide BMC White Nose to third spot. Alharbi clocked a time of 27.01 seconds.
Welldone finished in fourth spot with Saudi rider Abdulaziz Saleh Alhagbani (27.01 seconds) while Beoneik completed the top five with Noora Al Qaoud (27.42 seconds)
The championship continues today with three more competitions set to start after today’s Friday prayers.
The three-day event ends tomorrow.
The same venue will stage the Al Rayyan International Show Jumping Championship from January 1 to 3, QEF said on Wednesday.
The Peninsula
