Dubai: The three-day Dubai Show Jumping Championship CSI5* W (World Cup Arab League) saw world No. 8 Henrik Von Eckermann, aboard Chacanno, taking top honours in the day’s featured Longines – FEI World Cup Qualifier.
The event is a qualifier for the grand finale, the Emirates Airline Dubai Grand Prix scheduled for 3pm on Saturday. The competition saw a total of 52 entries from 21 countries.
Von Eckermann already has three wins in 2018, including victory in the Abu Dhabi CSI4* Grand Prix last week. He is clearly in impressive form. A two-time Olympian and 2017 FEI World Cup bronze medallist, he was the only rider to complete the course in under one minute, clocking 59.60 seconds. He is hoping to carry his top form into Saturday’s finale.
Von Eckerman said: “My horse is jumping really well, this was the perfect course for my horse, this is a big horse that has a big stride, so I don’t have to do much. He is quick and he is jumping really well and that makes me happy.”
Second placed Shane Breen of Ireland clocked 61.18 seconds, while Abdul Rahman Al Rajhi of Saudi Arabia came in third guiding Qognac Des Hayettes Z through the course in 62.70 seconds.
UAE’s Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi finished sixth with Cha Cha Cha 7.
The first CSI5*-W event of the event was the Meydan Welcome Stakes, won by the Netherlands 51-year-old Henk Van De Pol riding Looyman Z. The veteran Dutch rider’s last win came just a week ago in Abu Dhabi in a CSI4* event.
Luis Goncalves of Portugal and his horse Acheo Di San Patrignano settled for second, while Jean Francois Rondoux aboard Really Ls Ls Silla completed the podium.
Emirates Equestrian Centre trainer Alice Debany Clero guided Amareusa S to fourth.
