Staut continues winning momentum at Al Shaqab

It’s the Olympic year and Kevin Staut has already put his name as one of the contenders at the Rio Games. The Frenchman finished 34th at the 2012 London Olympics and would surely want to better that in Rio in August.Qatar Olympic Committee president HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani catches on action at CHI Al Shaqab yesterday.And the early 2016 form indicates Staut is in good nick. The 35-year-old posted his second major win of the year, after he won the CSI5* Table A (238.2.1a) 1.50m, the feature event on the first day of the CHI Al Shaqab yesterday.Qatar Equestrian Federation president Hamad bin Abdulrahman al-Attiyah watches the day’s proceedings.Under the lights at the magnificent Al Shaqab arena, Staut, mounting the eight-year-old mare, Elky van het Indihof Hdc, put on a clinical display to take the top spot. In second place was Bertram Allen. The Irish was coming off after a victory in the day’s third competition, but was pinned to second spot by Staut by over a second.Staut and Elky van het Indihof Hdc cut corners and cleared hurdles nonchalantly to finish in 55.85 seconds to claim 23,000 euros in prize money. Allen with his trusted eight-year-old mare, Molly Malone for company came home in 56.93 seconds, ahead of Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet (Oh d’Eole), who finished in 58. 14 seconds.  Bertram Allen, riding Quarto Mail, won the CSI5* Two Phases (274.5.3) 1.45m event ahead of Qatar’s Bassem Hassan Mohamed (right), on Argelith Squid.Staut continued his recent good form, having won the last leg of the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping 2015/2015 Western European League in Bordeaux, France, last month.That win at his home turf was Staut’s first major victory for some time, and he was happy to carry the momentum to CHI Al Shaqab. “I won in a nice class as well last year in the same show here. So when you win again in a competition in a big class, for sure it gives you lot of motivation for the rest of the week,” the Frenchman said.“I am really happy about my mare, because Elky jumped fantastic tonight. It was difficult and a really fast Class, so she did great. I am happy after achieving a good win in a class like this,” he said.Qatar’s Saeed Nasser S A al-Qadi, riding Jessico, won the CSI3* Two Phases (274.5.3) 1.30m event.Staut added that last night’s victory is a real confidence-booster for the remainder of the Olympic year. “As long as you go to shows, each round you do and each qualification you get, it gives you great motivation for rest of the season. I think in an Olympic year like this, it is good to arrive in a nice physical condition, but also with mind focussed on the goal to do well. When you start the season well, it will surely help at the Olympics as well,” he added.He said the weather in Doha was perfect to compete. “Elky adapted to the conditions very well. The weather is nice, when it is warm like now, not as in Europe where it is windy, the horse is more relaxed. And it helped her today,” he said.Meanwhile, Scott Brash, who finished a disappointing 25th last night, was knocked off the top of the FEI world showjumping rankings by French rider Simon Delestre, who himself had to settle for 17th spot at Al Shaqab.Brash and Deleste are separated by just 23 points, so one can expect the ranking to change hands in Doha, depending on their performances over the next three days.  Earlier, young Irish star Allen, won the CSI5* Table A (238.2.1a) 1.50m event, ahead of Qatar’s Bassem Hassan Mohammed.Allen riding Quarto Mail came home in 42.05 seconds, ahead of Bassem and Argelith Squid by .73 seconds and claim 6250 Euros in prize money. Germany’s Hans-Dieter Dreher was third with Colore.Qatar’s Sheikh Ali bin Khalid al-Thani along with his stallion Imperio Egipcio Milton in action during the CSI5* Table A (238.2.1a) 1.50m event at CHI Al Shaqab at Al Shaqab Arena yesterday.In the first leg of the Doha Tour, which is being run concurrently with the other international competitions at Al Shaqab, Saeed Nasser S A al-Qadi of Qatar and Ali al-Khorafi of Kuwait clinched victories.In the CSI3* Two Phases (274.5.3) 1.30m Class, al-Qadi came out on top riding Jessico. The pair finished in a time of 39.76 seconds, ahead of al-Khorafi (Ungarin 4) and Egypt’s Saed Saad (Benshouf).In the first event, CSI3* Table A (238.2.1a) 1.45m, al-Khorafi won with Cheril in 60.42 seconds. Saudi Arabia’s Khaled Abdulaziz al-Eid (Valuta S) was second, while  Ramzy Hamad al-Duhami also of Saudi (Al Capone) finished third. ResultsCSI5* Table A (238.2.1a) 1.50m1. Kevin Staut (FRA) Elky van het Indihof Hdc. Time: 55.85 secs. Prize money: 23,000 euros2. Bertram Allen (IRL) Molly Malone V. 56.93 secs. 18400 euros3. Gregory Wathelet (BEL) Oh d’Eole. 58. 14 secs. 13,800 euros CSI5* Two Phases (274.5.3) 1.45m1. Bertram Allen (IRL) Quarto Mail. Time: 42.05 secs. Prize money: 6250 euros2. Bassem Hassan Mohammed (QAT) Argelith Squid. 41.68 secs. 5000 euros3. Hans-Dieter Dreher (GER) Colore. 42.04 secs. 3750 euros          CSI3* Table A (238.2.1a) 1.45m1. Ali al-Khorafi (KUW) Cheril. Time: 60.42 secs. Prize money: 6250 euros2. Khaled Abdulaziz al-Eid (KSA) Valuta S. 60.52 secs. 5000 euros3. Ramzy Hamad al-Duhami(KSA) Al Capone. 60.93 secs. 3750 euros CSI3* Two Phases (274.5.3) 1.30m1. Saeed Nasser S A al-Qadi (QAT) Jessico. Time: 39.76 secs. Prize money: 3000 euros2. Ali al-Khorafi (KUW) Ungarin 4. 39.25 secs. 2400 euros3. Saed Saad (EGY) Benshouf. 41.01 secs. 1800 euros, Today’s schedule10: 30am: Doha Tour CSI3* Table A (238.2.1a) 1.30m show jumping (outdoor arena)10: 30am:  CPEDI3* Team para-dressage (indoor arena)1pm: Doha Tour CSI3* Two Phases (274.5.3) 1.45m jumping3:30pm: CSI5* Table C (263) 1.45m show jumping6:30pm: CSI5* Table A (238.2.1a) 1.50m show jumpingStaut continues winning momentum at Al Shaqab