Daniel Deusser was a class apart yesterday as the German rider won the feature event on the second day of the Longines Global Champions Tour.  
Barely a week after his stunning Grand Prix win at the CHI Al Shaqab, Deusser was back at the Longines Arena at Al Shaqab and the German World No 3 produced another masterclass as he led 10-year-old bay mare Kiana van het Herdershof to a phenomenal victory. 
Deusser and Kiana van het Herdershof were the only pair in the seven-combination jump-off to produce a double clear round in the tricky CSI5* 1.55m course and they were rewarded for their clinical show. Their 40.54-second in jump-off wasn’t the fastest of the night, but it was enough for Deusser to take home €37,125 in prize money as his rivals fumbled. 
Belgium’s Pieter Devos on Espoir and Britan’s Scott Brash with Hello Shelby were faster than Deusser, but a fault each meant they had to be content with second and third place respectively. 
“In the first round it was difficult to get a clear round, the triple combinations were  very tricky,” Deusser said. “It was a little funny ride as we had only seven riders in the jump off. There were not many clears, so yes I am happy. Kiana van het Herdershof is a careful horse. She is impressed with the Al Shaqab Arena, that’s why  she respects the pole so much. We (in the Global Champions League) started really well yesterday. I did well today and I hope it continues tomorrow also,” he added. 
The marquee event of the opening leg of the LGCT will be held today, with riders battling it out for the CSI 5*Grand Prix of Doha 1.60m, which carries a whopping €375.000 in prize money.  
Meanwhile, in yesterday’s 1.50m speed class, Belgium’s Jerome Guery took the top honours with his mount Eras Ste Hermelle. The pair cut all the corners to pull off an incredible fast clear round in 71.59 secs to clinch a narrow win. 
Henrik von Eckermann of Sweden astride 12-year-old gelding Best Boy came tantalisingly close to victory but missed out on Guery’s time by a mere 0.04 second. Eckermann was the first rider to attempt a difficult inside turn, and while it paid off, he had to frustratingly settle for second spot.  
Frenchman Roger Yves Bost took another third spot as the veteran rider had a sensational run and covered the ground rapidly on Castleforbes Talitha to finish in 71.79 seconds. 
The 1.50m speed class had 34 starters, and riders really had to keep their foot to the floor and ensure pinpoint accuracy to make their mark in this competitive class. 
There were only seven clear rounds over 1.50m course featuring a testing double of tall uprights. Switzerland’s Jane Richard Philips and Kenia van ‘T Laerhof produced the fastest round of the day on the clock but an unlucky pole at fence 10 put them out of contention for the win.  
  Sobirjonov scoops Hathab  Medium Tour title  
In the Hathab National series, which is being held along with LGCT, Abdushukur Sobirjonov of Uzbekistan clinched the Medium Tour title. Sobirjonov astride 12-year-old stallion Demilion was in fine form as the pair clinched the 1.30m class one second clear, after coming home in 51.60 secs. 
Qatar riders took the other two podium spots. Khalid Mohamed al-Emadi finished second with Eglantine du Castelet, while Ghanim Nasser al-Qadi was third on Numero Uno – T. 
The Small Tour title was won by Qatar’s Khalifa Abdulla al-Khaldi, who put on a flawless round with 17-year-old bay Dusty in 52.15 secs. 
Qatar’s Hamad Nasser al-Qadi came second with Hugo Z, while Uzbekistan’s Abdushukur Sobirjonov finished third with Kapitel. 
 
Results 
Table A, FEI Art. 238.2.2 - CSI5* with jump-off (1.55m) 
1. Daniel Deusser (GER); Horse: Kiana van het Herdershof; First round time: 76.15 secs; jump-off time: 40.54 secs; Prize money: €37,125  
2. Pieter Devos (BEL); Espoir; 75.46 and 37.90 secs; €29,700 
3. Scott Brash (GBR); Hello Shelby; 75.09 and 39.67 secs; €22.275 
  Table A, FEI Art. 238.2.1 - CSI5* against the clock (1.50m) 
1. Jerome Guery (BEL); Horse: Eras Ste Hermelle; 71.59 secs; Prize money: € 12,775 
2. Henrik von Eckermann (SWE); Best Boy; 71.63 secs; €10.220,00 EUR 
3. Roger Yves Bost (FRA) Castleforbes Talitha; 71.79 secs; €7,665  
  
National Hathab Series -- accumulator Medium Tour (1.20/1.30m) 
1. Abdushukur Sobirjonov (UZB); Horse: Demilion; 51.60 secs; Prize money: QR5,000  
2. Khalid Mohammed al-Emadi (QAT); Eglantine du Castelet; 51.71 secs; QR4,000  
3. Ghanim Nasser al-Qadi (QAT)
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