(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Showjumping star Abdullah Waleed Al Sharbatly yesterday capped a dream run in Qatar as he won the inaugural Doha Tour Grand Prix in which all top three spots were grabbed by riders from Saudi Arabia.
Al Sharbatly, who won competition two on Friday, secured the feature event yesterday with a time of 36.89 seconds as his trusted ride Sacramento produced a neat routine for the second day in succession at Al Shaqab's Indoor Arena here.
The 32-year-old Saudi star picked up the top prize of QR 50,000 in the 145/150cm class to supplement his win on Friday.
"I am very happy and proud how I won today," Al Sharbatly said after edging compatriots Abdulrahman Alrajhi and Khalid Al Eid to the top spot in the jump-off.
"He (Sacramento) is my horse number six. All my main horses are in Europe at the moment," he said.
"Me and him, we had a good understanding these past two weeks. I am really, really happy with this horse. He was out for a year with an injury," the Saudi said.
"This is the first two shows for him - last week and this week. He performed amazing. I saved him last week. I didn't go fast then but today I did. He jumped unbelievably. He's phenomenal.
"Yesterday (Friday) the competition was difficult but today it was even tougher," Al Sharbatly, a member of the Saudi team that won the bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics, said.
"Abdulrahman Alrajhi (Chicago) and Khalid Al Eid (Senorita) all tried to catch my time but they couldn't. Thank God, I won.
"My strategy was to go fast in the beginning and put pressure on the others. I did a time that was going to be hard to beat," Al Sharbatly, the individual silver medal at the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games, said.
"I am happy because I won the points and the Grand Prix," he added.
In the team competition yesterday, Qatar's Khalid Hamad Al Attiyah and Hamad Nasser Al Qadi joined Saudi Arabia's Al Eid to top the 130/135cm class to claim the top prize of QR 27,000.
The trio registered a cumulative time of 149.67 seconds to emerge as the winner in round against the clock.
Al Eid strutted out on Valuta A and managed a time of 69.95 seconds in his turn followed by Al Qadi, who was astride Lonnie. Al Qadi managed a time of 79.72. Al Attiyah, astride Viking D, posted 72.70 with eighth faults in his turn.
"It was a big show for us since we had a mix of Qatari riders competing alongside Saudi riders," Qatar's Hamad said.
"All of us were in one team. It was a good mix," he said. "I thought it was a good and strong show for all us who contested today."
"You can't say that you will win a competition but you get the feeling that you could be at the top. We were pretty strong in this competition," he said.
"First of all we see how the first rider will ride out. We watch him closely. Then we see if the second rider could do better speed than the first one.
"And the last rider quickly compares how the first two performed and then he formulates his own show. Whether he has to do speed or make a clear round is his decision.
"I think we will be going to Belgium (next week) where we have a Global Champions Tour leg and then we will compete at other European events," Hamad said.
In the day's first competition, Qatar's Saeed Nasser Al Qadi roared to an impressive win with his four-year-old steed Jessico 4 to nail the top prize of QR 5,000 in the accumulator class.
Al Qadi's winning time was clocked at 49.23 seconds at Al Shaqab's Indoor Arena.
Saudi Arabia's Khaled Almobty, astride Aloha, clocked a time of 52.17 seconds to claim the second prize of QR 4,000.
In third place was Kuwait's Ali Yousef Al Malki who guided Diamond Delemma with purpose to pick up the prize of QR 3,000.
"Of course I am happy to win because today is the last day of the show," Al Qadi said. "Anyone in my position will be happy." "He's a very fine horse," the 21-year-old said about Jessico 4. "He's very competitive. He likes speedy moves. Normally when he clears, it is very difficult to beat his time."
"For these classes, he's really competitive. I love this horse," Al Qadi said. "I have been riding him for four years, I guess."
"I always ride him in speed classes," the young Qatari added.
When asked about the event at Al Shaqab, Al Qadi said: "This competition is very tough. It really tests you. It has the best facilities in the world. It is the biggest indoor venue in the world. Every rider is desperate to ride at this arena."
"The organisation, the course designer, the fences, everything is well organized," Al Qadi said.
Al Qadi said he hoped to carry on riding so that he realises his dream of reaching the Olympic Games one day.
"I am happy with this win today. I hope we can do well in the future also. I have been riding since I was eight-years-old," Al Qadi said.
"I hope I can go and compete at the Olympic Games one day. Hopefully, I can reach my target," he said.
QEF Secretary General Khaled Safar Al Hajri yesterday said: "I think it was unique to put the Qatari and Saudi riders together in the team event. It was a fine mix."
"This makes the competition of a friendly nature. The trophy won here will remain in the Qatar Equestrian Federation office. We will prize this event. People will see this trophy even after 20 years," he said.
"Next year, we will have three legs in this series. Our prize money matches the events on the international calendar. The Doha Tour in 2016 will be an event on the (FEI's) international calendar."
The two-leg event kicked off on April 11. The first leg ended the next day at QEF's Outdoor Arena. The second leg concluded at Al Shaqab's Indoor Arena yesterday.
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