Latifa keeps UAE in race

Doha: A tricky show jumping course that saw large numbers of competitors knocking up a cricket score of penalty points, however, posed no problems for the UAE's Shaikha Latifa Bint Ahmad Bin Jumaa Al Maktoum.

Aboard the excellent Kalaska de Semilly, Shaikha Latifa jumped a faultless clear and by the half way point in the competition, was in joint first.

The modest young royal, who showed the men how it was done, said: "I'm delighted and very shocked. But now I have more pressure going into the next round.

"But I have a good trainer which has given me confidence and I have a great horse whom I trust. I know that if I ride well, the horse will do the rest."

With the top 20 riders qualifying for the second day of individual jumping and the team competition being decided over the two days, Shaikha Latifa was assured early of a big part to play on Day II.

The only other clear rounds came from Saudi Arabia's Khalid Al Eid on Alriyadh and Prince Al Saud on Saudia, Wuk Sang Song from Korea on Clinton H and the crowd's favourite, Ahmad Yousuf Ali Al Eumaihi on Nagano.

With all four Saudi riders putting in their expected good displays of horsemanship, the team is tipped for gold today with Korea running them a close second.

But the UAE will be a force to be reckoned with. Apart from Shaikha Latifa's precise performance as her country's first rider, Abdullah Mohammad Al Merri, whose round will be discounted, collected 12 faults. But the third UAE rider, Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi rode a skilful round after his horse, Qautro H, spooked after clearing the water jump to incur just eight faults.

Easy job

Fourth to go was Mohammad Al Kumaiti on Almutawakel, who made it look easy with just one pole down to carry four penalties into the next round.

Ronnie MacMahon, the UAE's technical advisor, said he had great hopes for even better performances today. "I'm very hopeful for the individual competition and I believe we can climb our way up in the team standings too," he said. "Shaikha Latifa rides well and she has an excellent horse and she gives the team a great boost."

Al Muhairi said: "The course is very good. It's a bit long and your horse has to concentrate all the way round. Qautro H was quite lively and spooked a bit. I think I rode him too hard at the water and unsettled him."

The course, which seemed to worry the horses, posed too many questions for some with a massive 10 riders eliminated for either two refusals or a fall.

The challenging, 13-fence, highly technical course continued to cost the teams dear after the break as experienced horses and riders knocked up huge scores. Kazakhstan's Alexandr Tishkov collected a whopping 41 penalties as he demolished the course aboard his gelding Lugano.