Devos guides Espoir to GP glory

Belgian rider Pieter Devos yesterday produced a stunning show of grace under pressure by guiding Espoir to CHI Al Shaqab 2019 glory on the final day of the three-day championship.

Espoir, a 15-year-old gelding, old found pace and rhythm just at the right time in the three-stage 1.60m class as Devos scooped up the top prize of €135.300 in the jump-off.

The winning horse clocked a time of 42.18 seconds to finish ahead of Nicola Philippaerts, who was astride H&M Chilli Willi.

Philippaerts, Devos’ compatriot, won €82.000 after H&M Chilli Willi clocked 44.42 seconds.

Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano got richer by €43.050 after stallion Chalou clocked 42.74 seconds but suffered 4 faults.

Qatar’s Bassem Mohammed, winner of the 2017 LGCT Grand Prix in Doha, secured an impressive fourth-placed finish with Gunder. Bassem won €32.800 while Germany’s Ledger Beernaum (Cool Feeling) finished fifth to bag €24.600.

“We had three difficult rounds today, but they were horse-friendly and I appreciate that. My horse has been jumping well for the last two weeks. He had some good rest earlier this week and he jumped very well today. I am a very happy man,” Devos said yesterday.

Earlier yesterday, Pius Schwizer of Switzerland topped the field in the 1.45m class with Living The Dream.

The winning time for Living The Dream - who produced a flawless routine - was 58.56 seconds.

Commenting on his winning performance, Schwizer yesterday said: “It was a very tough competition. There were many fast riders and it was a close call, but Living The Dream was super. He is in good form and very fast. Al Shaqab is great. It is like Hollywood for me and I like participating here.”

The President of the Qatar and Asian Equestrian Federations, Hamad Abdulrahman Al Attiyah, yesterday declared the three-day championship a huge success.

“It was an honour to have the presence of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Misnad and Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Chairman H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani at the final day’s action. In fact they were here on all the days,” Al Attiyah said yesterday.

“This championship is hugely followed all around the world and the competitions are widely covered by international and domestic media. The fierce competition we got to see was truly world-class. We are forever indebted to the Father Amir, H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani for launching the Al Shaqab initiative. The sport of equestrian has become hugely popular in Qatar and the region,” he said.

“Qatar is truly on the global equestrian map. We have two back-to-back events at Al Shaqab - the LGCT season opener and the CHI Al Shaqab - held in the space of just two weeks. We have achieved great success in conducting these two high profile show jumping and dressage events,” he said.

Speaking at the closing press conference, Omar Al Mannai, the Al Shaqab Commercial Director and CHI Al Shaqab 2019 Event Director, yesterday said: “We are very happy that CHI Al Shaqab 2019 has proven to be such a success for everyone, from riders to spectators, but we’re also sad in such moments because it means saying goodbye to the event and everyone involved until the next time.”

He added: “Congratulations to the winners. Unfortunately, (Qatar rider) Bassem (Mohammed) had one fault and couldn’t be on the podium. Next time perhaps he will do better.”

In all, CHI Al Shaqab 2019 featured 91 riders and 139 horses from 23 countries.