The Peninsula
Popular rider Nasser Al Ghazali won the Big Tour with Quel Homme as the final weekend of the Longines Hathab Equestrian Series kicked off at the Qatar Equestrian Federation Arena yesterday. Galwaybay Merbreaker, with Mohammed Nasser Al Qadi in the saddle (Small Tour) and Miss Chili, ridden by Mohammed Saeed Haidan (Medium Tour) also emerged victorious yesterday. Al Ghazali and his 17-year-old gelding completed around 62.62 seconds with no errors as the rider won QR4,125 in prize money on the first day of the 12th round of the annual series.
The Toymaker, with Salman Mohammed Al Emadi in the saddle, spent a time of 65.88 secs to join Al Ghazali on the podium by finishing second as he got richer by QR3,375. Zorro Z and Khalid Mohammed Al Emadi were quicker than both of them (60.80 secs), but four errors cost them a lot as they finished third. Al Emadi won QR2,625.
Longines Hathab Sport Coordinator, Abdullah Al Merri presented the trophies to the Big Tour winners. Earlier, in Small Tour, Al Qadi enjoyed two spots on the same podium. He topped a field of 32 entries with his reliable 10-yearold gelding, completing the task in 50.82 secs to win QR1,250. Then he clocked a time of 51.78 secs with Vlacido to win QR750 after finishing third. Dusty, with Khalifa Abdulla Al Khaldi in the saddle, completed the routine in 51.77 secs.
Both Al Qadi and Al Khaldi made no errors during their routines. Mohamad Sultan Al Suwaidi, Al Shaqab Equine Education Department Manager, presented them the awards. Meanwhile, Medium Tour winner Haidan also completed an errorless routine with Miss Chili to top the field in his class. Haidan's 12-year-old grey mare clocked a time of 58.58, as the Qatari rider got richer by QR2,500.
Rashid Towaim Al Marri, who guided Lamm Addiction Z in a routine that lasted for 59.88 secs, won the second place while Jaber Rashid Al Amri, astride Argelith Squid, completed the podium with a time of 61.51. Medium Tour winners were presented awards by Vice-Chairman of the Longines Hathab Organising Committee, Omar Al Mannai. Round 12 action continues today.