DOHA: Rider Harrie Smolders produced a flawless routine on 13-year-old mount Regina Z to bag the top prize on day two of the Longines Global Champions Tour 5* 1.55m International class.
Smolders, the 33-year-old Dutchman, timed his routine with great expertise, finishing the round in just 36.36 seconds to claim the top prize of €48,675.
Juan Carlos Garcia, who weaved his magic on day one, edged Bonzai van de Warande to second spot with a time of 36.86 seconds under the lights at Al Shaqab Arena. Garcia got richer by €29,500.
Pius Schwizer and Clever Lady combined to pick up the third prize of €22,125 in a time of 37.23 while
Ludger Beerbaum (mount Chiara) finished fourth in a time of 38.66 seconds. Beerbaum bagged €14,750 for his efforts.
Michael Whitaker on mount Elie van de Kolmen picked up €8,850 after finishing fifth.
Whitaker posted a time of 39.80 seconds.
Looking ahead to tonight’s final, championship contender Smolders - currently 11th in the overall ranking and in with a chance to be overall champion - looks to be on fantastic form having also come second in last night’s CSI5* (1.55m).
Giving the riders a taste of what to expect tonight, Uliano Vezzani’s first round course demanded precision and control – it proved too technical for many experienced horse and rider combinations.
A short double of uprights in the middle of the final four-fence combination claimed many.
With a tight time allowed, the riders had to push on around the spectacular Al Shaqab Arena and most finished less than a second inside the 80 second allocated time.
Britain’s Whitaker and Elie van de Kolmen set the standard in the jump-off with a swift clear in 39.80s but Smolders, who lies just 37 points behind Tour leader Laura Kraut in the ranking, immediately knocked three seconds off his time.
Schwizer did his best to catch the fast Belgian rider, but he finished just under a second behind. The jump-off course included a tricky combination across the arena and some tight turn-back options.
Just five riders jumped a double clear.
The top ranking Tour riders were out to prove a point yesterday ahead of the Longines Global Champions Tour Final Grand Prix tonight.
Although the top five championship contenders - Laura Kraut, Christian Ahlmann, Edwina Tops Alexander, Luciana Diniz and Rolf-Goran Bengtsson - did not make it on to the podium in Doha yesterday, the competition today will be intense with €1.45m up for grabs.
Tonight’s big competition will undoubtedly come down to the wire with nine of the top 11 all in contention.
Legendary German rider Ludger Beerbaum admitted it was too difficult to predict the champion as the standard of competition is “so strong”.
Longines Global Champions Tour President Jan Tops spoke of the growth of show jumping in the Middle East region and the wider world and the excitement building ahead of the Grand Prix:
He said: “It is incredible how our sport is growing wider, there is a lot of growth. There is not one rider who has won twice (this season) so it is fantastic how many variables are still possible. It is the last event and still we have nine riders who can win the overall championship.”
Earlier during the day, Qatari riders pulled off flawless rounds in the CSI2* category (1.25m).
Faisal Abdulhadi Al Marri won the competition against the clock without posting any penalties.
He was followed by compatriot Awad Alqahtani who also didn’t register any penalties.
The third place was also grabbed by local rider Abdulla Ali Al Qashouti.
In the jump off for the 2 star event (1.45m), Alqahtani was faster than Al Marri and grabbed the first place. The third place was also grabbed by Qatar through Yousef Ali Al
Rumaihi. THE PENINSULA
