The second leg of the Morocco Royal Tour kicked off Sept. 26th in Rabat under overcast skies and today it was a Saudi who was in top form in the CSIO-W 4*. Adbullah Alsharbatly won the main Grand Prix qualifier with Atome des Étisses, just hours after winning the first 4* competition of the day in the irons of Böckmann Lord Pezi Junior.
The Prix Wilaya Région Rabat Salé Kenitra was a qualifier for the World Cup Grand Prix in Rabat, which takes place . A large field of 53 took part, although others preferred to save their horses for the weekend’s two big events (World Cup qualifier and Nations Cup) In the end, the first three combinations finished within hundredths of a second away from the first-place finisher and his third-place compatriot Ramzy Al Duhamy. France’s Simon Delestre and Olga Van de Kruishoeve were second.
Alsharbatly was, of course, delighted with this double win, but, “More than these victories, the most important thing is to be here in Rabat, to enjoy this incredible competition, and this fine organization. I’m proud to enjoy this beautiful competition in an Arab country, a competition of the highest standard that has nothing to envy of the top European events.
“I feel good here, just as I feel good with my horses, working with them. Every day, I start at six in the morning. It’s hard sometimes, but without this daily work, these results wouldn’t be possible. Stanny Van Paesschen also plays an important role in these victories. He’s a good person, a friend. He doesn’t try to modify my riding, but, through details, his goal is to get the best out of what I know how to do.”
Atome des Étisses won’t be his Grand Prix horse tomorrow; he will ride the stallion Ermindo W. He explains the choice regarding Atome. “He’s a horse that belongs to the Saudi federation, and I will ride him in the Nations Cup on Sunday. I will love to because he’s a very fast horse without giving the impression of being fast. In fact, Atome is a super horse, he’s very intelligent, very sensitive, and needs a lot of time to get him on his side. I’ve been riding him for a year and a half now, and the most important thing is to make a friend out of him because he’s a ‘cheval très compliqué’ as we say in France.”
Prix Wilaya Region Rabat Sale Kenitra
CSIO4*W 1.45m Grand Prix qualifier
53 participants
1) Abdullah Alsharbatly, KSA – Atome des Etisses 0/63.18
2) Simon Delestre, FRA – Olga van de Kruishoeve 0/63.26
3) Ramzy Al Duhami, KSA – Addressee 0/63.50
4) Ines Joly, FRA – Faylinn de Fondcombe 0/64.89
5) Álvaro González De Zarate Fernandez, ESP – Casa Diva PS 0/65.55
Prix ONMT
CSIO4*W 1.40m Two Phases
81 participants
1) Abdullah Alsharbatly, KSA – Boeckmanns Lord Pezi Junior 0-0/26.51
2) Saad Jabri, MAR – Shakaponk du Fleuve Z 0-0/26.54
3) Pello Elorduy Ibarzabal, ESP – Flonflon 0-0/26.56
4) Pello Elorduy Ibarzabal, ESP – Champenoise de Rampan 0-0/27.06
5) Dominik Fuhrer, SUI – Goodluck de La Bauche 0-0/27.11
Full results here.
~ with files from R&B Presse
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