In-form Alqahtani bags top honours as Al Qadi and Al Marri shine on day two

Doha: Qatar’s Awad Alqahtani guided Cassander Van Het Bremhof in a brilliant error-free routine to win the feature event on the second day of the 2018 Emir’s Sword Festival yesterday.
At Qatar Equestrian Federation’s (QEF) Outdoor Arena, the 34-year old rider and his 16-year old mare completed the routine in the Big Tour, 140/150 cm event in 66.93 seconds.
The victory earned Alqahtani the biggest prize cheque of the day, worth QR37,500.
Cantaro 32, guided by Salmeen Sultan Al Suwaidi, accounted for the second place following an impressive 70.75 second run which made him richer by QR30,000.
Hamad Nasser Al Qadi booked the remaining spot on the podium after completing the same task in 72.34 seconds. He won QR22,500 in prize money.
The Big Tour saw a host of prominent riders taking part, including Olympian Hamad Ali Al Attiyah who settled in for a fourth place finish after his 11-year-old gelding Clinton clocked a time of 74.41 seconds. Al Attiyah won QR 15,000 in prize money.
Zorro Z, with Salman Mohammed Al Emadi in the saddle, completed the round in 75.09 seconds to wrap up the top five in the Big Tour which offered a total of QR 150,000 in prize money.
One of Qatar’s most promising riders, Saeed Nasser Al Qadi prevailed in the Medium Tour when he guided his favourite gelding Jessico 4 to complete a flawless routine which lasted 69.90 seconds.
Al Qadi won a prize cheque worth QR17,500. Corrado’s Coriana, with Mohammed Said Haidan in the saddle, also had an errorless run and clocked a time of 77.33 seconds to win the second position along with a reward of QR14,000. Mohammed Khalifa Albaker who entered the event with Davidoff Du Bois, completed the task in 77.95 seconds to finish third. He got richer by QR10,500.
Firenze, guided by Hamad Towaim Al Marri, clocked the fourth fastest time (82.89 seconds) as Dollar Van De Zuuthoeve ridden by Sheikh Abdulla bin Nasser Al Thani wrapped up the top five.
Earlier, in the Small Tour, Qatari rider Abdulla Rashid Al Amri guided his 15-year-old mare Cinderella B to complete a flawless ride to win in 63.61 seconds. The victory earned him QR12,500 in prize money.
Graffiti De Lully CH, ridden by Saeed Hamad Al Rashdi, clocked a time of 64.77 seconds to win the second place in the event which saw riders competing against the 110/120cm hurdles. Al Rashdi got richer by QR10,000. Mohammad Hazim Abara, who competed with Ambre Del Bosco, wrapped up the podium following an errorless 68.46 second ride which also earned him QR7,500 in prize money.
Heart Attach, with In Shaallah Saad Hameed in the saddle and popular rider Mohammed Al Ghazali who entered the event with Michael Jackson were placed fourth and fifth respectively.
The three-day 2018 Emir’s Sword Festival concludes today.