Sharbatli the show stopper

Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s star horseman Abdullah Sharbatli upstaged some quality names to steal the honours on the second day of the Dubai Show jumping Championships at the Dubai Equestrian City yesterday.

The talented Saudi rider delivered a flawless performance with his horse Goldex to win the Gulf News Dubai Cup, the qualifying event for today’s FEI World Cup.

Sharbatli clocked an impressive time of 66.82 seconds to deny UAE riders Ahmad Al Juneibi and Shaikha Latifa Al Maktoum in the afternoon’s feature event. He also took home a cash prize of Dhs 32,000.

Strong contender Al Juneibi, riding his Dhs 3million horse Picobello Wodiena, was timed at 71.05 seconds while Shaikha Latifa completed her round in 75.8 seconds.
Al Juneibi, who rides for the Emirates Heritage Centre, collected Dhs 25,000 for his effort while Shaikha Latifa won Dhs 18,000.

A total of 25 riders from a field of 51 qualified for today’s Grand Prix – among them are nine riders from the UAE and seven from Saudi Arabia.

Four Qatari riders, including fourth-placed Shaikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani, also earned a place in the competition’s showpiece event which takes place at 3pm today.

Sharbatli was in top form yesterday as he also won the AMS Speed Stakes, a competition where the rider races against clock and is only penalized four second for a fault.

Sharbatli, this time aboard his own horse Hugo Gesmeray, zipped around the ring in a time of 61.03 seconds. His effort earned him Dhs 12,500.

Qatar’s Falah Suwaid Al Ajmi was the next quickest clocking 62.81 seconds, while the UAE’s Al Junaibi took third place with a time of 66.03 seconds.

Al Ajmi won Dhs 10,000 and Al Junaibi Dhs 8,000.

Shaikh Latifa delivered a strong performance as well to take fourth place aboard New Jimmy’s.

Arif Ahmad, winner of Thursday’s Dubai Equestrian Club Two Phases competition, finished seventh in a time of 68.86 seconds.

Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi led a one-two finish for UAE show jumpers in the Longines Welcome Stakes, a one-round jump-off competition, with Shaikh Majed Al Qasimi taking second place.

Al Muhair’s faultess round was timed at 39.82 seconds while Al Qasimi clocked 42.3 seconds.

Qatari rider Abdulla Al Ajel finished third in 43.73 seconds.
Twenty out of the 52 competitors in this class delivered fault-free performances. The winner took home Dhs 12,000.

Top-class competitors from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and the UAE are taking parting in the competition which concludes today.