Team UAE rider, Abdullah Al Marri landed his first ever Grand Prix in the UAE on Saturday, January 12
when he beat defending champion, Henrik Von Eckermann to claim the 62,000 Euros Longines Al Shira'aa Grand Prix on the final day of the CSI4* Al Shira'aa International Horse Show.
Al Marri, who also competes for Al Shira'aa has ridden at the highest level, including Asian Games, World Cups and World Equestrian Games, and has claimed Grand Prix classes abroad, but this was his first in the UAE. The Dubai-based rider was also making good on some unfinished business.
'For two years I have been waiting for this because in the first version of the Al Shira'aa International Horse Show, I made the fastest time but put the last fence down,' he said. 'Winning this Grand Prix on home soil is so special because I have never managed it before.'
Al Marri, an Al Shira'aa rider, was one of only nine clears following a technical 160cm first round, and he and his mare were the first to go.
They cruised to a 33.07sec clear, setting the bar for all the others. The next three to go could not stay clear with Saudi Arabia's Ramzy Al Duhami getting four faults at the last fence in 33.32sec, Luis Sabino Goncalves of Portugal accumulating eight faults in a time of 35.18sec, and Ahmed Saber Hamcho from Syria getting four.
Then defending champion, Henrik Von Eckermann took to the arena on his young horse, Peter Pan. He rode a faultless round but could not lower Al Marri's mark, stopping the clock in 33.35sec, leaving Al Duhami to claim third.
'I can't thank the team behind me enough,' said Al Marri. 'This is an incredible mare and she has been with me for nine years. She had some bad luck in the summer with an injury and for a while I thought she may never compete again, but today, thanks to the amazing support of the team, she won a Grand Prix.'
The preceding class, the CSI4* HH Zayed Bin Hazza Al Nahyan Prize featured a roll call of top names and was won by Italy's Paolo Paini on Chaccolie, who went around the jump off in 33.81 sec. Luis Sabino Goncalves of Portugal rode his mare Dominka van de Lucashoeve into a cool second place in 34.78sec while Sweden's Eckermann was third on Lorielle in a very fast 32.67sec but with four faults.
Paini said: 'I am very happy to win this show with my horse, she's a young fighter horse, she is very fast and careful. She takes steps to improve and be better. I competed in Al Ain two years back and it was a great experience but Al Shira'aa is a different feeling and it's by far the best.'
The first class of the day was the Abu Dhabi Sports Council Classic Stakes and it was won by Khalid Abdulrahman Almobty of Saudi Arabia on Garizona. Trevor Breen from Ireland was second, with Escapade.
Sixteen riders made it through to the jump off from the first round and Almobty's 35.51sec was good enough to hold on to the top spot, despite a final challenge from countryman, Meshari Alharbi whose time of 33.92sec would have been good enough for the lead had he not had two fences down. Kuwait's Talal Al Zahem took second on Coraggiosa with a jump off time of 35.85sec.
'My horse Garizona is very good and competitive', said Almobty. 'When I qualified for the jump off among the amazing competitors, I thought I should go for it, I just went in number 10, so I went really fast and I knew I might win. I am so happy to win in the fantastic show and want to thank you for having me.'
'Hopefully next week we will take part in the two-star competition in Dubai with this horse, she will jump the height of 140 cm for the first time. I have high hopes with this horse.'
Image Credit: Jessica Rodrigues
About Al Shira'aa Stables
With bases in the UAE and the UK, Al Shira'aa Stables is a global company that works to promote and develop all levels of horse sport both in the UAE and abroad. Overseas, the company lends its name to key international events including the Al Shira'aa Hickstead Derby and the Royal Windsor Al Shira'aa Dressage Grand Prix.
Back on home soil, the Al Shira'aa International Horse Show, now entering its third year, is one example of the passion and vision upon which Al Shira'aa Stables was founded. The other is the Al Shira'aa sponsorship of the UAE Showjumping Team during their recent international campaigns at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, and the Asian Games in Jakarta.
