Commercial Manager of Al Shaqab, Omar Al Mannai (left) and Hathab Series Tournament Director, Ali Al Rumaihi pose for a photograph with the podium winners of the Big Tour competition of Round 9 of the Hathab Series, Faleh Suwead Al Ajami, Cyrine Cherif an
French show jumping star Cyrine Cherif yesterday captured the Big Tour glory on Gerlin Vd Waterkant as the ninth round of the popular Hathab Equestrian Tour concluded at the Al Shaqab Arena.
Cherif, who piloted the Al Shaqab-owned 13-year-old gelding in a flawless routine to finish on top among 16 entries at the outdoor arena of the state-of-the-art facility.
Cherif who has more than 18 years of experience as a show jumper, was unlucky on Friday, finishing in the 39th spot in the Medium Tour, but yesterday he made amends with a brilliant comeback on Gerlin Vd Waterkant, completing the routine in 39.78 seconds to get richer by QR8.750.
She was more than four seconds faster than Qatari rider Faleh Suwead Al Ajami who finished second (43.38 secs).
Al Ajami was astride Ulano, an 18-year-old gelding and the duo made no mistakes during yesterday’s round. He won QR7,000 in prize money.
Saeed Nasser Al Qadi and his ride Daydreamer EC were the fastest yesterday, clocking a time of 35.08 secs, but conceded four errors on their way to the remaining podium finish.
Mubarak Yousuf Al Rumaihi guided Vivaldi K to complete the same task in 36.46 secs, but four mistakes cost him the podium spot.
Earlier, yesterday, in the Open Class (Two phases - 1.15m/1.25m), Mohammed Khalifa Albaker led an all-Qatari podium with a brilliant routine on Arselina. Albaker accounted for the top prize of QR3,750 with an error-free ride that lasted for 24.95 seconds. Khalid Mohammed Al Emadi, astride Ambre de Beaufour, was just one hundredth of a second slower (24.96) than the winner.
Al Emadi also made no mistake as he booked the second spot on the podium to win QR3,000 in prize money. Dubai, with Abdulrahman Adel Nassar in the saddle, completed the podium.
Dubai completed the round in 26.00secs to win the third place and bagged a prize cheque worth QR2,250.
Khalid Hamad Al Attiya (Ultimo, 26.48 secs) and Khalid Sanad Al Nuaimi (Jazz De Semilly K Z –Dupli, 26.68 secs), rounded up the top five as the ninth round of the 12-leg series came to a closure.
