By Rizwan Rehmat

DOHA: Turkish rider Omer Karaveli yesterday produced a superb ride with Cortani to win the feature event on the first day of the 2016 Al Rayyan International Show Jumping Championship.

Cortani clocked a time of 30.45 seconds to win the 145cm class at Qatar Equestrian Federation’s (QEF) Outdoor Arena.

Whitaker ridden by Qatar’s Hamad Ali Al Attiyah finished in second spot while Apolo who had Ales Optarny of Czech Republic in the saddle grabbed the third spot.

Whitaker clocked a time of 31.61 seconds while Apolo finished in a time of 33.14 seconds.

Cha Cha Cha 7 (4th Ramzy Al Duhami) and Beltone Partner (5th Mohamed Talaat) completed the top five riders in the feature event. Karaveli picked up the top prize of QR 30525 and said the win had come as a surprise.

“Frankly speaking I was not expecting to win here but I am glad I came here. I have this great young horse who is nine years old” Karaveli.

“I am very very happy” he said. “I did not expect to win. My horse had very good rounds last week. He’s hasn’t done big shows but he is getting better” he said.

“I know he is getting better” the Turkish rider said.

Karaveli added he was eying a berth at the Olympic Games this year.

“This year I hope I can go to the Olympic Games. I hope I can take Turkey to the Games after 56 years. That’s the only goal for me” he said.

“I am in the lead still There’s a 30-point gap. It all depends how I ride my other horses. Qualification goes until March 6. I am still leading and hope I can continue with this.

“That’s why I came here so that I want my nine-year-old to see if he is ready.

“The level is really high in Doha. Very good horses and riders are here. This is a good place to see your level.

“I have some more events to take care of” Karaveli said.

Earlier in competition two Ali Al Khorafi emerged an easy winner with Ungarin 4 clocking a time of 27.97 seconds in a flawless routine at the outdoor arena.

Al Khorafi bagged the top prize of QR 2812.

Derin Demirsoy of Turkey finished second with Bosphorus (29.23 seconds). Demirsoy picked up the second prize of QR 2250.

In another flawless ride Rakan Al Hasawi secured the third spot with Dennis (30.24 seconds).

Cover Girl G (4th Bader Alfard) and Annalita (5th Noora Al Qaoud) completed the top riders in the 130/135cm class.

In competition one Jessico 4 stepped out of the starting blocks in emphatic fashion as Qatar’s Nasser Al Qadi eased to an easy win ahead of 42 other riders.

Jessico 4 clocked a time of 26.69 seconds as Al Qadi pocketed the top prize of QR 1687 in the 120cm class.

Chantico B ridden by HRH Prince Mansour Al Saud of Saudi Arabia finished second in a time of 28.21 seconds. The second prize was worth QR 1350.

Saudi rider Abdulrehman Albaldi guided Anufleur M to the third spot in a time of 29.10 seconds.

Kuwait’s Sheikh Yousuf Al Sabah - astride Van Schijndel’s Wamberto - finished in fourth spot whereas Qatar’s Hamad Towaim Al Marri finished in fifth spot (Senna Van De Helle).

This is the second major competition for the home riders who also featured at the Qatar International Show Jumping Championship held at the same venue last week.

Last week’s Grand Prix class was won by Qatar’s Bassam Hassan Mohammed with The Toymaker.

A total of 89 riders and 164 horses taking part in this prestigious 4-star event the second of its kind in a week organised by QEF.

The three-day FEI-approved event features a Grand Prix Class of 160cm high fences within the Arab League qualifications of riders and horses for the 2016 World Cup Finals.

There are 11 classes in total of which 3 were contested yesterday while 4 each are lined up for today and tomorrow respectively officials said.

The action continues today with the first one starting at 11:30am. The last competition of the day will start at 6:00pm.

THE PENINSULA