The in-form Mohamed Saeed Haidan came up with electric performances in the Medium Tour individual and teams’ competition to steal the show in the second leg of the annual Qatar Equestrian Tour – Longines Hathab being held at the Qatar Equestrian Federation’s indoor arena on Friday.
The 30-year-old rider stood out in the jump-off round of both the individual and team contests in thrilling finish. The Medium Tour individual event had 30 riders in fray with 13 making it to the jump-off.
Haidan first rode D Saucedo faultless in 32.05 secs to win, beating Cyrine Cherif, who was on Brennus Villelongue, and clocked 34.67secs.
Then in the exciting team’s battle, Haidan rode Team Alfardan to a delightful win choosing to go for broke with his trusted 14-year-old grey mare Miss Chili. Haidan completed the 10-obstacle jump off round in a swift 32.91secs. Team Ajwad and Team ExxobMobil finished second and third respectively.
“We took a risk and it paid off,” said Haidan while reacting to his show-stopping performance. “Miss Chili had two individual rounds earlier but the rules allow us to ride the same horse in case of a jump-off and we took the chance. Because I know she can faster than all the horses.
“She jumped very, very good and I had only Cherif to beat and she did a clear round and quite fast too. But again I felt I could do faster and managed to go two seconds up,” he explained.
He added: “In the individual round, I was on Danny (Saucedo) and he’s fast as well and he jumped super good too, so I am lucky to have these horses.”
Haidan had won the tour in both classes in the first round in the first week of September as well. “Yes it’s been a good start and tomorrow I am riding Danny in the Big Tour the first big class for me this season and hopefully he’ll do good,” he said.

Impressive Haya takes Small Tour top honours
In the Small Tour action, it was 14-year-old Haya Khalid al-Hitmi who excelled on bay mare Dusty with the best two fastest and faultless phases to the take the top honours in fine style. The short-statured rider clocked a very impressive 23.69secs and 28.40 respectively.
“This is my second show after I suffered a tendon injury, we’ve been winning earlier but this is my first overall Small Tour win this season. Last round I won in the juniors and this week I have won in the juniors and Small Tour and I am happy,” said Haya. “She (Dusty) jumped exactly the way I had planned. She’s also quite fast and I know how to ride her,” she added.
The Small Tour was a challenging contest with 54 entries which later had 12 eliminations. The runners-up spot was claimed by Jassim al-Jaham al-Kuwari, astride bay gelding Calydor. He clocked faultless 28.08 and 28.67secs respectively. Saif Mohamed al-Naimi finished third with on bay gelding Sidney. He finished his two rounds in 27.26 and 29.10 secs respectively.

Results
 Medium Tour (Individual) | Table A, One round against the clock with jump off | 120/130cm | Prize-Money QR30,000
1 Rider: Mohamed Saeed Haidan; Horse: D Saucedo; Faults: 0; Time: 69.32; J-Off Faults: 0; Time 32.05; QR7,500
2. Cyrine Cherif; Brennus Villelongue; 0; 67.70; 0; 34.67; QR6,000
3. Khalid Sanad al-Nuaimi; Gop Stop; 0; 70.88; 0; 37.43; QR4,500

Medium Tour (Teams) | Table A, One round against the clock with jump off | 120/130cm | Prize-Money QR30,000
1. Alfardan Prize: QR15,000
Mohamed Khalifa AlBaker; Lissabon 56; Faults 0; Time: 68.69
Khalid Sanad al-Nuaimi; Goliat; 0; 69.93
Mohamed Saeed Haidan; Miss Chili; 8; 69.03 J. Off: 0; 32.91
2. Ajwad Prize: QR9,000
Cyrine Cherif; Brennus Villelongue; 0; 67.70; J. Off 0; 34.67
Rashid Towaim Al Marri; Obama; 0; 70.80.
3. ExxonMobil Prize: QR6,000
Hussain Saeed Haidan; Viahipi D’Auzay; o; 63.20
Faleh Suwead al-Ajami; Ambre De Beaufour; 4; 73.87
Ghanim Nasser al-Qadi; SIEC Lonnie; 4; 77.56

Small Tour | Table A, Special two phases, Art. 274.2.5 | 100/110cm | Prize-Money QR20,000
1. Rider: Haya Khalid al-Hitmi; Horse: Dusty; Faults: 0; Time 23.69; Faults: 0; Time: 28.40; Total Faults: 0; Prize:QR5,000
2. Jassim al-Jaham al-Kuwari; Calydor; 0; 28.08; 0; 28.67; 0; QR4,000
3. Saif Mohamed al-Naimi; Sidney; 0; 27.26; 0; 29.10; 0; QR3,00