In a few day’s time, many of the finest equine athletes in the show jumping world will begin their journey to the final thrilling stage of this year’s Longines Global Champions Tour, hosted by the state-of-the-art stadium and stud, Al Shaqab, Doha. All eyes will be on the breathtaking Qatari venue as the top combinations fight for the last available points, over €1.7 million in prize money and the ultimate title of 2014 Longines Global Champions Tour Champion.
The big guns
Among the equine athletes flying Qatar Airways from Liege, Belgium to Doha, Qatar this weekend are some of the most high-profile and prolific winners of the year. Heading up the big guns en route to take part in the final, dramatic Grand Prix round of the season is Scott Brash’s (GBR) Hello Sanctos; the 12-year-old bay gelding has partnered the World No1 to a record-breaking three Grand Prix Gold medals this season and the pair look poised to defend the title they won so convincingly in 2013.
“I will do my best to win the Championship again this year,” said Brash. “I have had a fantastic season and Sanctos has been incredible, but Ludger is still in the lead at the moment and he will be a tough man to beat.”
Fighting talk from Ludger
Brash’s arch-rival for the 2014 crown, the one-and-only German legend Ludger Beerbaum, will be bringing his 11-year-old grey mare Chiara to Doha, with whom he finished 2nd to Brash and Sanctos in the Doha Grand Prix last year. With more top horses to choose from than many other riders, there was some speculation over who Beerbaum might bring, but Chiara seems to enjoy the giant arena and big occasion of Doha.
“I didn’t ride well in the first round of the Grand Prix in Vienna or I would be in a safer position on the Ranking than I am now,” says Beerbaum. “Scott needs to finish 5th or higher to beat me, but if I can finish above him I win. It will be close. I will be watching him closely.”
A fairytale ending?
Fresh from a 5* win in Lyon last weekend, fan-favourite Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE) will be taking his star 15-year-old stallion Casall ASK to the final showdown. Bengtsson is the only other rider who could steal victory from Beerbaum should Brash fail to, but he must win the Grand Prix to achieve this. Having led the Championship for a good portion of the season it would be a poetic twist if the 2012 runner-up were to win both the Grand Prix and the Championship in ten day’s time.
“It’s not impossible, but both Scott and Ludger will be super-motivated,” said Bengtsson. “Casall feels good and fresh. He’s had a rest since the World Championships and I did not push him in Barcelona (FEI Nation’s Cup Final). Al Shaqab is a great place to compete with lots of space, so I will do my best.”
Threats from all sides
Although it’s a three horse race to the Championship finish line, there are a number of very talented horse and rider combinations who could still snatch the €450,000 Grand Prix win. Scott Brash managed to do the double last year winning both the Doha Grand Prix and Championship in one go, but it had never been done before.
This year Brash will have to contend with the likes of 2014 FEI World Cup Final winners Daniel Deusser (GER) and Cornet D’Amour, 2014 Aachen Grand Prix winners Christian Ahlmann (GER) and Codex One, the exciting new partnership of Tiffany Foster (CAN) and Tripple X, reigning Olympic Champion Steve Guerdat (SUI) and Nasa, former Olympic Champion Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and Status, Pan-Am Team Gold medallists Kent Farrington (USA) and Uceko, and former two-time LGCT Champion Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) with Old Chap Tame.
One of the biggest threats could well be in-form Dutchman Jur Vrieling and 14-year-old VDL Bubalu, who will be retired from international competition after Doha. The stallion has won a World Championship Team Gold medal and the Nation’s Cup Final this year and could well go out with a bang in the very last competition of his career.
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