Qatari rider Bassem Mohammed guides Gunder over an obstacle during the final day of the Qatar Round of Longines Global Champions Tour at Al Shaqab Arena yesterday. Pictures: Lotfi Garsi
Qatar’s celebrated rider Bassem Mohammed yesterday produced the performance of his life as he guided Gunder to a flawless routine to win the Grand Prix of Doha at Al Shaqab after a pulsating battle in the jump-off.
H H Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missnad gave away the gleaning Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) trophy to Bassem after the Qatari clinched the feature competition on the third and final day of the high profile show jumping event at Al Shaqab.
Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) President H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani also attended the prize distribution ceremony.
Bassem, who was the fifth to enter the track in the nine-rider jump-off, rarely looked in trouble as he guided the 11-year-old gelding with a masterful performance that drew a thunderous cheer from the packed Al Shaqab crowd.
Gunder clocked a time of 35.31 seconds as Bassem secured the top prize of €132,000.
Swiss star Janika Sprunger, astride Bacardi VDL, finished in second place in a time of 37.34 seconds. Sprunger, who entered the field in third place, set the time to beat for Bassem who did so in admirable fashion minutes later.
H&M Christian K, who had Sweden’s Peder Fredricson in the saddle, ended the 1.60m battle in third place. H&M Christian K clocked a time of 37.41 seconds in the jump-off.
Sprunger got richer by €80,000 while Fredricson took home €60,000.
Dutch rider Maikel Van der Vleuten (VDL Groep Verdi Tn, 37.76 seconds, €40,000) was the only other rider to produce a flawless routine.
The fifth spot went to Frenchman Kevin Staut (Silver Deux de Virton H D C, 35.39 seconds, 4 penalties, €24,000) completed the top five in the last event of the three-day LGCT Tour event.
“It is an amazing feeling to win this on home soil. I had so many people watching me including H H Sheikha Mozah and H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani and my home fans,” Bassem said after the event.
“It feels like a dream come true,” the 30-year-old, who featured at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro last August, added.
“I am so happy to have got this win. Thank God it happened at the right time. I’m so happy. It’s amazing,” he said.
Bassem, a gold medallist in the Team Event at the 2014 Asian Games, yesterday was all praise for Gunder’s performance.
“My horse was excellent today and he was in a good mood. We really prepared very hard for this class and I’m happy that this win happened,” Bassem said.
When asked about his turn at the famous ‘tough hurdle’, Bassem said: “I was quick between the fences and there we had time to go over well.”
The Qatari, who was placed 45th, 13th and 10th in the three other competitions he featured in over the week, yesterday candidly admitted he felt pressure in the jump-off.
“Of course, there is pressure. Everybody here (in Qatar) wanted me to win, I wanted to make everybody and myself happy. I thank God for this victory,” he said with a huge grin on his face.
Second-placed Sprunger said: “It was a competition and we had some tough battles. I enjoyed my run with my horse. It’s a great finish.”
