The Peninsula
Nasser Al Ghazali and his reliable mare What A Pleasure yesterday topped the field in Big Tour of Longines Hathab Qatar Equestrian Tour’s 12th Round at the Longines Outdoor Arena at Al Shaqab, yesterday.
Al Ghazali and the 12-year-old won the event in 51.12 seconds to bag a prize cheque for QR11,250.
The Tahani Saker-owned bay mare wasn’t the fastest among 15 rider-horse combinations, but it was the only one, who made no mistakes during yesterday’s Big Tour class.
Meanwhile, title-contender Faleh Suwead Al Ajami and his 21-year-old bay gelding Ulano collected valuable championship points after securing the second place to leapfrog Saeed Nasser Al Qadi in the points table.
Al Ajami and the Maryam Mubarak Al Ali-owned Ulano made four faults while recording the second fastest time in the event (47.84 secs) as mistakes cost him the top spot on the podium.
Verona, with Mohammed Khalifa Albaker in the saddle, came third after completing the round in 48.37 secs, but they conceded four faults.
Al Ajami won QR9,000 in prize money while Albaker received QR6,750. Nebrasco and Hamad Nasser Al Qadi (50.40 secs, four faults) and Casal Des Forets with Mubarak Yousuf Al Rumaihi in the saddle (56.35 secs, 4 faults) were placed fourth and fifth respectively.
Earlier, in the Open Class, Mohammed Nasser Al Qadi and his 12-year-old gelding Galwaybay Merbreaker swept away the rest of the field with a brilliant time of 60.99 secs while conceding no errors. Mohammed and the Haya Abdulaziz Al Rabban-owned Galwaybay Merbreaker were 2.44 secs faster than their closest opponent Nasser Al Ghazali, who was astride Hurry Up.
Al Ghazali and the Yamen Kalach-owned 10-year-old gelding completed the same task in 63.43 secs with no faults.
Jumbo, with Mohammed Khalifa Albaker in the saddle, booked the remaining spot on the podium with a ride that lasted for 64.22 secs.
Mohammed won QR6,250 in prize money while Al Ghazali got richer by QR5,000. Third place winner Albaker bagged QR3,750.
Calydor and Jassim Al Jaham Al Kuwari (65.08 secs) was placed fourth while B Chelsea S, ridden by Abdulaziz Ahmad Al Mohannadi (65.12 secs) completed the top five.
RESULTS
Comp. (3) Open Class - Table A, One round against the clock, FEI Art. 238.2.1, 115/125cm, Prize Money QR25,000
1: Horse: Galwaybay Merbreaker, Rider: Mohammed Nasser Al Qadi, Faults: 0, Time: 60.99 Secs
2: Hurry Up, Nasser Al Ghazali, 0, 63.43 secs
3: Jumbo, Mohammed Khalifa Albaker, 0. 64.22 secs
Comp. (4) Big Tour, Competition with winning round, Art. 276.2.1, 130/145cm, Prize Money QR45,000
1: Horse: What A Pleasure, Rider: Nasser Al Ghazali, Faults: 0, Time: 66.95, Winning Round - Faults: 0, Time: 51.12 secs
2: Ulano Faleh Suwead Al Ajami 4, 66.92 secs, 4, 47.84 secs
3: Verona Mohammed Khalifa Albaker 0, 69.01 secs, 4, 48.37 secs