Prince Abdullah shines through

Dubai: Prince Abdullah Bin Metab booked his ticket to the FEI World Cup when leading a Saudi Arabian sweep of the top three places in the Dubai Grand Prix, the final qualifier for the event which will be held in Las Vegas this year.

Riding Saudi, Prince Abdullah obtained the only double clear round in the class on the final day of the Dubai Show Jumping Championship on Friday evening.

The FEI World Cup is an annual competition organised by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI), which features the world's best show jumping horses and riders.

Friday's schedule featured two international classes, the Consolation Competition for those riders who did not qualify for the FEI World Cup Qualifier, and the Dubai Grand Prix for the top 25 riders who qualified for the event.

After a fabulous display by acrobats and fire blowers, who performed breath-taking stunts, the riders walked the course in preparation for final competition.

Seven hopefuls

Among them were seven hopefuls from the UAE including Shaikha Latifa Al Maktoum riding Kalaska De Semilly, Adel Khamis (Capitola), Abdullah Humaid (Quatro-H), Rashid Al Hoani (Ikea 3), Mohammad Al Sowaidi (Matahab), Abdullah Al Merri (Secret D'Amour) and Mohammad Al Kumeiti. There were also riders from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Syria and Jordan.

The competition began with the course getting the better of the riders and by the 9th rider, it looked like there was not going to be a clear round. But UAE rider Abdullah Humaid, riding Quatro-H, changed it when obtaining the first of two clear round. The other went to Prince Abdullah.

Following the first round, seven riders, including four from Saudi Arabia, two from the UAE and one from Qatar, went into the final round where Bin Metab secured his World Cup ticket.

The second and third places went to Khalid Al Eid, riding AlRiyadh, and Abdullah Al Sharbatly, riding Quatro. UAE's Abdullah Humaid, on Quatro-H, was fourth and Mohammad Al Kumeiti, riding Al Mutawakel, seventh.

Earlier, promising UAE horseman Arif Ahmad, riding Enzo De La Pree, delivered a clear round to win the Consolation Class.