Doha: Mohammed Rashid Al Amri and Mohammed Saeed Haidan clinched top podium spots in the opening round of Small and Medium Tours as the new season of the prestigious Longines Hathab - Qatar Equestrian Tour kicked off at the Qatar Equestrian Federation’s (QEF) Indoor Arena, yesterday.
Seasoned rider Haidan, with his 13-year-old stallion D Saucedo, topped a field of 26 entries to pick up the biggest individual prize of the day - QR7,500, completing two phases in impressive manner.
In his first outing of the season, D Saucedo clocked a time of 31.18 with no errors. He then followed up with the fastest time of the day in the second phase, 27.49 secs without making any faults to win the event.
Fiori LS, ridden by Salmeen Sultan Al Suwaidi, came second after clocking times of 30.05 secs and 27.66 secs in this two phases. S I E C Lonnie, with Hamad Nasser Al Qadi in the saddle, completed the Medium Tour podium after completing the two phases in 31.73 and 28.09 without making any errors.
Meanwhile, Alfardan won the Medium Tour team event after Mohammed Khalifa Albaker (Lissabon), Mohammed Saeed Haidan (Miss Chili) and Khalid Sanad Al Nuaimi (Goliat) showed impressive riding skills to outlast their opponents.
Team Ajwad (Electra B/Saeed Nasser Al Qadi, Brennus Villelongue/Cyrine Cherif) came second while Team Exxonmobil (Ambre De Beaufour/Faleh Suwead Al Ajami, Jazz De Semilly K Z (Dupli)/Ghanim Nasser Al Qadi, Viahipi D’auzay/Hussain Saeed Haidan) completed the top three.
Earlier, in the Small Tour, Al Amri romped to win the opening round of the new season after completing a flawless routine with his 10-year-old bay gelding Cornett Des Forrets.
The Qatar Equestrian Federation-owned Cornett Des Forrets clocked a time of 31.93 seconds with no errors in the first phase yesterday, and followed up with a brilliant 25.72 second-routine to top a 61-entry field.
He won QR5,000 in prize money.
Saeed Hamad Jumaa, astride his eight-year-old gelding Jirocco Blue, (31.93 secs and 25.72 secs) clinch the second spot while Bleu Boy, ridden by Mohammed Abdulla Juma, came third (32.78 secs, 27.05 secs) as all three podium winners finished with no faults in their respective phases.
Riders will compete in Open Tour and Future Riders categories before the Big Tour event today.
The Longines Hathab - Qatar Equestrian Tour is organised by the Qatar Equestrian Federation and Al Shaqab, a member of Qatar Foundation, and is supported by The Social and Sport Contribution Fund (Daam).
