Al Sharbatly makes it three in a row

Dubai: After back-to-back wins on Thursday and Friday, Abdullah Al Sharbatly entered yesterday's featured Dubai Equestrian Club Grand Prix FEI World Cup as the one to beat and the Saudi Arabian lived up to the billing as he collected his third consecutive win in the event — and fourth overall.

The 29-year-old Al Sharbatly commented that he was a bit hesitant entering the Dubai Showjumping Championship 2012 CSI*** — W Dubai (Arab League) because he was undecided on which horse to ride in the competition. A silver medalist in showjumping at the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games, Al Sharbatly settled on Larkhill Cruiser. The decision proved correct as he covered the course in an authoritative 51.07 second with no faults. The time was 3.50 seconds faster than Marion Huges of Ireland as she rode Heritage HS Fortuna to the runner-up finish, with no faults. The UAE's Shaikha Latifa Ahmad Al Maktoum was third aboard Peanuts De Beaufour in a time of 55.48.

Late decision

Al Sharbatly said: "Entering, I thought I should ride my other horse, and this was a late decision to ride Larkhill Cruiser. I won with him on both days and today I was concerned that the last two days may have taken too much out of him. It's hard to win on three consecutive days, but he did it.

"This was a great win and I am pleased to continue my development. My goal remains the 2012 Olympics in London and the next FEI World Equestrian Games."

The Dh170,000 Dubai Equestrian Club Grand Prix FEI World Cup featured the top 25 Arab League Riders that qualified from Friday's Gulf News Dubai Cup.

The final day of competition began with the Longines Accumulator and was won by Joerg Naeve of Germany. He piloted his mount Coolidge with 65 points in a time of 48.86 seconds.

The accumulator is an event that allows competitors to choose the jumps they will contest, with each fence cleared worth a given amount of points based on difficulty. The winner is decided by the highest point total and fastest time.

The win was the first of the competition for Naeve, who finished third on opening day in the Emirates Airline Two Phase, and runner up the second day in The Gulf News Dubai Cup, the qualifier for the Dubai Equestrian Club Grand Prix FEI World Cup. In each of his finishes Naeve rode Coolidge.

Opening day

Finishing close behind in second in 49.43 and 65 points was Saudi Arabia's Faisal Al Shaalan with Aphrodite Van Het Texelhof. Third place went to Marion Hughes of Ireland in a time of 51.88 and 65 points with Crispien. A total of 38 riders competed in the Dh80,000 Longines Accumulator.