The Peninsula
Faleh Suwead Al Ajami boosted his chances of an overall victory in the Big Tour Championship of the Longines Hathab Series yesterday by winning the 130/145cm class at the Qatar Equestrian Federation Arena.
On the penultimate day of the final round of the popular series, Al Ajami, the 2019 Amir’s Sword winner, topped the Big Tour field by completing first of the two-round contest in 70.00 secs on his reliable 14-year-old gelding Carport.
Al Ajami won QR4,200 in prize money.
One of his main rivals in the title race, Hamad Nasser Al Qadi, after missing out on a podium spot on Thursday, stormed back into contention with a ride that lasted 72.51 secs with S I E C Lonnie to finish second yesterday.
Quel Homme, ridden by Nasser Al Ghazali, completed the same task in 72.74 secs to finish third.
Salman Mohammed Al Emadi, who is also targeting a spot in the overall podium, could only finish in the fourth spot after finishing more than eight seconds adrift of the winner with The Toymaker.
Earlier, in the Medium Tour, Rashid Towaim Al Marri clinched the victory while Jaber Rashid Al Amri secured both of the remaining spots on the podium.
Lamm Addiction Z, with Al Marri in the saddle, completed the two-round routine in 60.89 secs, Al Marri won QR2,500 in prize money after his flawless performance.
Al Amri's best effort came with Argelith Squid, who completed the routine in 64.87 to finish second and win QR2,000. Al Amri later guided Canavaro De Muze (E.T.) to finish the same task in 67.49 to win the third place which added QR1,500 to his prize bag
Medium Tour points leader before the start of the 12th leg, Mohammed Khalifa Albaker was fourth.
Meanwhile, Belucci Van 'T Vleminkhof and Hussain Saeed Haidan excelled in Small Tour's 1st round yesterday.
They completed the two rounds in 63.51 secs ahead of Dino Bb Z and Mohammed Al Ghazali. Dino Bb Z clocked a time of 64.47.
Fito R, with Saad Ahmed Al Saad in the saddle, finish third in 67.84 secs.
All riders will compete in the second and final rounds of their respective classes today in the grand finale of the series.