(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Sheikh Ali bin Khalid al-Thani's bid for an Olympic medal received a major boost at HH The Emir's Sword International Showjumping Championship with the Qatari rider winning the CSI5* event in a six-rider jump-off at the outdoor arena of Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF) yesterday.
The 33-year-old, riding the 2005-born bay gelding Anyway II, performed in an emphatic fashion to finish a clear round in 46.14s in the jump-off to win the 155cm, against the time, event.
"It's amazing to win at home course and in front of your supporters," Sheikh Ali told Gulf Times.
"For sure my horse was in form. Anyway (II) really jumped good today. The first round was good, he helped me a lot. Second round, I rode well and he jumped even better," Sheikh Ali, who was part of the Qatar team that won the 2014 Asian Games gold, said.
"I am happy with the win. Everything is going well with my horse and with me. All my horses are jumping well. We had two clear rounds today and the win to top it all," he said.
Sheikh Ali, who had qualified for the FEI World Cup Final in 2012 and 2013, and is an anchor rider of the Qatari national team that has qualified for the Rio Olympic Games, said his focus is on the Olympic Games right now.
"We are happy to qualify for Rio. We have a very busy season ahead. After the Emir's Sword I will take part in CHI Al Shaqab and later in Doha tour, before going to Europe for training," he said.
Sheikh Ali also finished second in the 42nd American Invitational at the Longines Global Champions Tour on Miami Beach behind Olympic gold medallist showjumper Scott Brash.
Sheikh Ali's closest challenger turned out to be Turkey's Omer Karaevli, who rode Dadjak Ter Puttennen, and was beaten by a margin of less than two tenths of a second.
Former Longines Global Champions Tour overall winner Edwina Tops-Alexander, astride Clinton, claimed the third place with a clear jump-off round of 53.81s.
The fourth place went to Russian Vladimir Tuganov, who rode Bluebuster. His 51.11 second effort in the jump-off was marred by a fault.
Czech Ales Opatrny, on Acovaro, had produced the third fastest time of 49.00 but committed two faults to incur eight penalty points. Yet, he managed to finish fifth, edging out Moroccan Abdelkebir Ouaddar, who has been dominant in the event so far, winning two titles and a third place in the two days.
Earlier, Saudi Arabia's Bader Mohamed Alfard had the quickest time of 73.43s during the main round. But his one fault proved too costly. Sheikh Ali instead qualified in the first spot, getting an impressive 75.83s without a fault. Tuganov also had a clean round in 78.89s.
Four others also reached the jump-off after managing faultless rounds.
Earlier, Ouaddar pulled off another victory to continue his domination of the competition. Riding the 2002-born grey stallion Cardano Sitte Z, the 53-year-old Moroccan bagged the CSI5* Speed and Handiness event (145 cms).
Gliding easily over the hurdles, Ouaddar clocked 77.33s to beat Jordanian Ibrahim Bisharat, on Brown Sugar, by a big margin. Bisharat suffered a penalty and despite that, the Jordanian was timed 82.22s.
"My horse felt great and did great today. I am enjoying myself here," the veteran Moroccan rider said.
"I think we did fairly well yesterday. I hope we can turn in another fine run tomorrow. I will be here for this week and the next as well. I am going to feature at the CHI Al Shaqab next week," Ouaddar said. "I am targeting an Olympic Games berth, so yes, the focus is on that now," he said.
Reigning Longines Global Champions Tour overall winner Luciana Diniz, who rode on Lady Linderhof, finished third. She posted a faultless round but lacked the pace finishing in 83.24s.
Diniz will also be in Doha for the next week's event.
"I am so happy with the routines of my horse," Diniz said. "Yes, I am going to be here the next week also. I hope to have good results. The horses are feeling fine," she said.
The second and penultimate day of the prestigious event began with Saudi Arabian Khaled al-Mobaty winning the CSI2* Accumulator With Joker (125 cms) on Zypern 4, beating a host of local challengers. Qatar's Salman al-Emadi, on Lucky Lady, took the second place, while Mohamed al-Ghazali finished third, astride Caresse MG.
Former world No 1 tennis player Martina Hingis, who was playing doubles with Indian Sania Mirza at the ongoing Qatar Total Open before being packed off, presented the awards to the winners of the main event of the day. Also present on the occasion was QEF president Hamad bin Abdulrahman al-Attiyah.
RESULTS
CSI2* Accumulator with Joker (125 cms)
1. Khaled al-Mobaty (KSA) Zypern 4, 49.46 (QR10.500)
2. Salman al-Emadi (Qatar) Lucky Lady, 49.59 (QR8,400)
3. Mohamed al-Ghazali (Qatar) Caresse MG, 50.36 (QR6,300)
4. Khalid Mohamed al-Emadi (Qatar) Galiano "R", 51.92 (QR4,200)
5. Saeed Nasser al-Qadi (Qatar) Desparadito, 56.96 (QR2,940)
CSI5* Speed & Handiness (145 cms)
1.Abdelkebir Ouaddar (Morocco) Cordano Sitte Z, 77.33 (QR30,525)
2.Ibrahim Bisharat (Jordan) Brown Sugar, 82.22 (4 pen) (QR24,420)
3.Luciana Diniz (Portugal) Lady Lindenhof, 83.24 (QR18,315)
4.Emanuele Gaudiano (Italy) Guess 6, 83.46 (8 pen) (QR12,210)
5.Ramzy Hamad al Duhami (KSA) Garlic Vh Kapelhof, 83,52 (QR8,547)
CSI5* Against the clock with jump-off (155 cms)
1. Sheikh Ali bin Khalid al-Thani (Qatar) Anyway II, time 75.83, JOT 46.14s (QR76,800)
2. Omer Karaevli (Turkey) Dadjak Ter Puttenen, 80.52, 46.31 (QR 61,440)
3. Edwina Tops-Alexander (Australia) Clinton, 82.73, 53.81 (QR 46,080)
4. Vladimir Tuganov (Russia) Bluebuster, 78.89, 4 pen, 51.11 (2 pen) (QR 30,720)
5. Ales Opatrny (Czech Republic) Acovaro, 80.34 49.00 (8 pen) (QR 21,504)
6. Abdelkebir Ouaddar (Morocco) Quickly De Kreisker, 80.51 51.06 (8 pen) (QR 16,896)
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