At the breathtaking Longines Arena at Al Shaqab, the dazzling duo were in glorious flow in tandem as they stopped the clock at 41.74 seconds in jump-off. German rider Ehning, who took home €135,300 of the €410,000 prize money on offer for the marquee 1.60m class, raised his finger in delight as he caressed his horse Stargold for the fabulous effort.
Frenchman Simon Delestre, who was gunning for his second win of the day, shaved almost three seconds off Mike Kawai’s time and put himself ahead of the Japanese with 10-year-old Dexter Fontenis Z. But Ehning masterfully rode Stargold to beat Delestre’s time by 0.29 seconds. The 24-year-old Kawai, who stayed clear with Saxo de La Cour, took the final podium spot.
After two clear rounds on Delux van T&L, Niels Bruynseels was one of seven to finish in the jump-off. After Bruynseels, Friday’s winner Christian Kukuk astride Nice van ‘t Zorgvliet could not stay clear, so was Max Kühner with EIC Cooley Jump the Q.
“I can’t believe it... Our victory last year was already incredible, but to repeat this year... I’m so proud of Stargold! I believe he is more of a star than I am,” said a teary-eyed Ehning.
“He makes things so easy for me. I don’t have the words. He’s a great horse and I’m really proud of him. I would like to thank its owners, the Dimartini family. They bought it for me and I’m more than happy tonight. There were three tough courses tonight, and it didn’t matter much between Simon and me. Either way, I’m thrilled,” the 48-year-old added.
Stargold had already won a 1.50m class on the first day of the show, so Ehning knew the stallion was on form. “He was in such good shape and felt so fresh, so I already had a good feeling,” said the German rider. “Germany is cold, and he enjoys the heat here. But we won the grand prix together last year so I thought it wasn’t possible to do it again. I can’t really believe I’ve won it twice in a row on the same horse. I thought the two courses were fair. I know my horse so well, and I know that Uliano [Vezzani] cannot shock him with a distance – long or short – and if I rode well I could manage his course, so that gave me a lot of confidence. He’s a stallion with a lot of character and I try to let him stay that way. I don’t mind when he likes some little bucks, it is his personality.”
In-form Delestre, who was last to go in the jump-off, called Al Shaqab as ‘one of the best arenas in the world’. “I saw how fast Marcus went, but I knew there was one place I could take a risk,” said the Frenchman. “But Dexter is only a 10-year-old, and it’s his first tough grand prix outside. I knew there was a line I could take nine strides but I took 10 and I had to slow down. I did my best but Marcus was faster. This is a show I want to come to every year; it’s fantastic for the horses, one of the best arenas in the world,” he added.
Earlier, in the penultimate 5-star Jumping class – the CSI 5* 1.50m – Delestre completed a double on his stallion, I Amelusina R. Having already won Friday’s 1.45m event in the same class, he triumphed over a field of 28 riders yesterday, crossing the finish line in a time of 57.66 secs – a clear margin of victory over second-placed Briton, Jack Whitaker (60.03 secs) riding Equine America Valmy de la Lande, and third-placed rider, Germany’s Hans-Dieter Dreher (60.40 secs) on Vestmalle des Cotis.
Earlier, Sweden’s Patrik Kittel on Touchdown won the CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle. Kittel and the 11-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding scored 84.070% for the win, exactly a year since the last victory for the pair at this same venue.
Dinja van Liere of the Netherlands and Hartsuijker, 11-year-old KWPN gelding and winner of the Grand Prix Friday, were second on 78.455%. Germany’s Evelyn Eger on the 18-year-old Oldenburg gelding Westminster was third on 77.840%.
Kittel expressed his sense of redemption at victory today, after making a significant error in Friday’s Grand Prix tests. “I have to say I was quite nervous today, even though I’ve been in the sport for 25 years. But it all felt good and, from the first to the last halt, my horse just flew through.
“It was a really cool ride – at another great show for Al Shaqab. One thing I love here is how you see so many children riding and interacting with horses. We all love the sport of course, but it’s also about horses being part of society and a positive influence in young people’s lives. And to see those developments here really warms my heart.”
The final day had got underway with an exciting Dressage 5-star Grand Prix Special (CDI 5*) – the ‘Special’ class signifying a technically very challenging test. Coming out on top was Charlotte Defalque from Belgium, riding her 17-year-old chestnut stallion Botticelli, with a score of 69.638%. Second place went to Lithuania’s Justina Vanagaite (68.957%) on her ride Nabab; and third was Spain’s Juan Matute Guimon (67.979%) on Quantico.
The Jumping CSI 2* 1.35m class, against the clock, brought a much-deserved win for Qatar’s Sheikh Khalifa Abdulaziz al-Thani – after two second-place finishes over 1.30m and 1.40m fences on Friday. Riding his 10-year-old chestnut mare Serendipity, Sheikh Khalifa prevailed in a 22-strong field, completing the course in 58.92 seconds. The runner-up was Kuwait’s Ali al-Khorafi (60.03 secs) on Karaat, just ahead of third-placed Cyrine Cherif from France (60.33 secs) riding Brennus Villelongue.
In the subsequent Jumping CSI 2*, Grand Prix with Jump Off over 1.45 fences, first place went to Ali al-Khorafi, riding a 10-year-old named “I”. Ali completed a clear round in 70.13 secs, before winning the Jump Off with a time of 34.70 secs. Second was Saudi Arabia’s Kamal Abdullah Bahamdan on Kwikly (68.59 secs clear / 35.37 secs); third was Qatar’s Mohamed Khalifa al-Baker aboard Lissabon (71.46 secs with 4 faults / 36.30 secs).
CHI AL SHAQAB RESULTS
CSI5* - Commercial Bank CHI Al Shaqab - Grand Prix presented by Longines over two rounds (1.60m) CSI5*Rank, Horse, Rider, 1st Round faults, Time, 2nd Round faults, Time, Total, Jump-off faults, time, Prize Money
1. Stargold, Marcus Ehning (GER), 0, 71.67 sec, 0, 72.80 sec, = 0, 0, 41.74 sec, €135,300
2. Dexter Fontenis Z, Simon Delestre (FRA), 0, 71.66 sec, 0, 70.83 sec, = 0, 0, 42.03 sec, €82,000
3. Saxo de la Cour, Mike Kawai (JPN), 0, 76.20 sec, 0, 75.01 sec, = 0, 0, 44.98 sec, €43,050
Against the clock (1.50m) Table A, FEI Art. 238.2.1 - CSI5*
1. I Amelusina R, Simon Delestre (FRA), 0, 57.66 sec, €13,150
2. Equine America Valmy de la Lande, Jack Whitaker (GBR), 0, 60.03 sec, €10,520
3. Vestmalle des Cotis, Hans-Dieter Dreher (GER), 0, 60.40 sec, €7,890
Jump-off (1.45m) Table A, FEI Art. 238.2.2 - CSI2*
(Rank, Horse, Rider, Round - Faults, Time, Jump Off - Faults, Time, Prize Money)
1. I, Ali al-Khorafi (KUW), 0, 70.13 sec, 0, 34.70 sec, €8,646
2. Kwikly, Kamal Abdullah Bahamdan (KSA), 0, 68.59 sec, 0, 35.37 sec, €5,240
3. Lissabon, Mohamed Khalifa al-Baker (QAT), 0, 71.46 sec, 4, 36.30 sec, €3,930
Against the clock (1.35m) Table A, FEI Art. 238.2.1 - CSI2*
(Rank, Horse, Rider, Faults, Time, Prize Money)
1. Serendipity, Sheikh Khalifa Abdulaziz al-Thani (QAT), 0, 58.92 sec, €750
2. Karaat, Ali al-Khorafi (KUW), 0, 60.03 sec, €600
3. Brennus Villelongue, Cyrine Cherif (FRA), 0, 60.33 sec, €450
Dressage
Commercial Bank CHI AL SHAQAB Freestyle presented by LONGINES FEI Test Grand Prix Freestyle - CDI5*
1. Touchdown, Patrik Kittel (SWE), 84.070%, €26,000
2. Hartsuijker, Dinja van Liere (NED), 78.455%, €20,000
3. Westminster, Evelyn Eger (GER), 77.840%, €15,000
FEI Test Grand Prix Special - CDI5*
(Rank, Horse, Rider, Total score, Prize money)
1. Botticelli, Charlotte Defalque (BEL), 69.638%, €6,400
2. Nabab, Justina Vanagaite (LTU), 68.957%, €5,000
3. Quantico, Juan Matute Guimon (ESP), 67.979%, €3,800
FEI Para GP Freestyle - Grade IV - CPEDI3*
(Rank, Horse, Rider, Total score, Prize Money)
1. Quiana, Kate Shoemaker (USA), 81.850%, €1,200
2. Katharina Sollenburg, Manon Claeys (BEL), 73.492%, €1,000
3. Irish Coffee Bh, Rodolpho Riskalla (BRA), 73.300%, €800
FEI Para GP Freestyle - Grade V - CPEDI3*
(Rank, Horse, Rider, Total score, Prize Money)
1. Eros van Ons Heem, Kevin van Ham (BEL), 72.875%, €1,320
2. Fursten, Camilla Christensen (DEN), 71.625%, €1,000
3. Cleverboy van d’Abelendreef, Ulricke Dekeyzer (BEL), 68.542%, €800
FEI Para GP Freestyle - Grade I - CPEDI3*
(Rank, Horse, Rider, Total score, Prize Money)
1. Doo Schufro, Annemarieke Nobel (NED), 74.222%, €1,320
2. Convicto, Ana Isabel Mota Veiga (POR), 67.333%, €1,000
FEI Para GP Freestyle - Grade III - CPEDI3*
1. Rosenstolz N.O.P., Lotte Krijnsen (NED), 75.833%, €1,320
2. Istmo de Lyw, Anni Meijer (NED), 61.111%, €1,000
