Daniel Deusser in action astride Killer Queen VDM.
Doha: A little over 10 days ago, Germany’s world No.3 Daniel Deusser arrived in the Qatari capital as the man to beat.
The meticulous German lived up to his top billing yesterday also as he won the LGCT Grand Prix of Doha - the new season’s opening round - for his third victory on the Qatar trip.
The 38-year-old show jumping star guided Killer Queen VDM to a flawless routine to nail his second major win of the week.
Last week, the same combination clinched the CHI Al Shaqab Grand Prix worth €135,300 to Deusser.
Yesterday, the 10-year-old mare clocked a time of 42.54 seconds in the jump-off at Longines Arena at Al Shaqab where Deusser was the last rider to go into the imposing ring.
Deusser, who won the 1.55m battle on Friday also, yesterday picked up the top prize of €123,750.
“The winner of each Grand Prix qualifies for the season-ending Super GP. So being able to qualify for that in the first event of the season really takes a lot of pressure off me going forward. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to win again,” Deusser said yesterday.
“I haven’t decided which events to take part in next, but I want to be competitive and win more Grand Prix events this season. The crowd was fantastic and fully behind us. It was a great experience and even more special to win it front of them,” he added.
Belgium’s Nicola Philippaerts, astride Katanga v.h Dingeshof, finished on the podium in second place. Katanga V H Dingeshof clocked 44.08 seconds as 26-year-old Philippaerts won €75,000.
The riders posing for a group photo after the Doha Round of the Longines Global champions League.
In-form Jerome Guery of Belgium produced another quality show as he guided Quel Homme de Hus to third spot in a time of 46.27 seconds. Guery won €56,250.
Only the top three in the Grand Prix managed clear rounds.
Germany’s Marcus Ehning (Funky Fred, 4 faults, 42.79 seconds, €37,500), Belgium’s Niels Bruynseels (Delux van T & L, 4 faults, 44.31 seconds, €22,500), Austria’s Max Kühner (Elektric Blue P, 4 faults, 44.52 seconds, €16,875) and France’s Titouan Schumacher (Atome Z, 8 faults, 42.98 seconds, €11.250) completed the top-seven in the jump -off.
In the Big Tour battle of the popular Longines Hathab Series yesterday, Kyrgyzstan’s top rider Kamil Sabitov rider wrapped a quality week of jumping by guiding Quintendro to the top spot in the 1.45m competition.
Sabitov, 21, and his trusted 14-year-old gelding won the same title during last month’s Amir Sword Festival. Sabitov also topped a couple of events in Qatar in January.
At the Longines Arena at Al Shaqab, Sabitov yesterday produced another memorable ride to win the top prize of QR8,750 as Quintendro clocked a time of 58.35 seconds in the QR35,000 event that featured 21 riders.
Qatar’s Mohammed Saeed Haidan, astride Miss Chili, clinched the second spot in a time of 60.28 seconds. Haidan won QR7,000.
Qatari rider Hamad Nasser Al Qadi relied on 15-year-old S I E C Lonnie to claim the third spot in a time of 66.88 seconds. Al Qadi won QR5,250 for his third-place finish.
Seasoned Qatari show jumping riders Salman Mohammed Al Emadi (The Toymaker, 67.18 seconds, QR3.500) and last year’s Amir Sword winner Faleh Suwead Al Ajami (Ulano, 68.75 seconds, QR2.450) completed the top five.
Earlier in the Open Class, Qatar’s Nasser Al Ghazali yesterday sealed the top spot and headed a group of four home riders in the 1.25m competition.
Al Ghazali, astride What a Pleasure, grabbed the top spot in a time of 53.92 seconds. Al Ghazali won QR 3,750.
Mohammad Hazim Abara, in the saddle with 10-year-old Ambre de Beaufour, secured the second place on the podium. Ambre de Beaufour clocked a time of 56.05 seconds as Al Ghazali won QR3,000.
Ghanim Nasser Al Qadi, astride Numero Uno - T, was third in a time of 57.23 seconds. Al Qadi won QR2,250. The fourth-fastest time was also sealed by Al Wadi with Dark Dalida (57.61 seconds). Al Al Qadi picked up QR1,500.
The fifth place went to Kuwait’s Dhari Motlaq Almutairi (Naville Z, 58.41 seconds, QR1.050). A total of 54 riders entered the Open class with 12 of them getting eliminated early.
