Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Five days of international world-class competition began when Al Shira’aa International Horse Show kicked off at Abu Dhabi’s Al Forsan International Sports Resort for the beginning of its ninth staging on Wednesday.
Competition got underway in Arena Two with the opening class of the CSI2* Bronze Tour, as 66 riders contested the 1.20-metre Two Phase Special. Seventeen riders jumped clear in the first phase, with the UAE’s Saif Alkirbi claiming victory aboard Number 5 P, owned by Mansi Gupta, after a quick clear round in 25.27 seconds.
Layth Ghrayeb of Syria followed in second place riding his father’s Elite de Ponts, while the UAE’s Omar Alhussaini took third place on his own Haarlem Garette, setting the tone for a competitive week ahead.
Attention turned to the one-star category for young horses where both the six-year-old and seven-year-old divisions took centre stage. In the former class, Syrian rider Osama Al Zabibi impressed aboard Tabaluga BL to take the win, while Saif Alkirbi claimed second place – and his second podium spot of the day – riding Pink Floyd V&V. Salim Al Suwaidi and Sharjah Equestrian & Racing Club’s Doubel Ble completed the podium.
The seven-year-old class followed shortly after, where Great Britain’s Alexander McLean delivered a confident round on Opportunity, owned by Breen Equestrian, to clinch the win. Salim Al Suwaidi took second place on Celina 235, with Al Shira’aa Stables’ Humaid Al Muhairi and Errill Z finishing in third.
The programme continued over in Arena Two with the CSI2* Silver Tour 1.30m, which attracted 45 starters. Atop the field and making up for his second place earlier was Al Suwaidi, who rode Annie S of the Lowlands Z for Sharjah Equestrian & Racing Club. Shady Ghrayeb jumped Chapeau TN into second place, while Farhang Sadeghi of Iran and Gazaro VDL followed in third.
Back in Arena One, the CSI2* Gold Tour 1.40m saw 46 riders vying for a spot in Saturday’s CSI2* Grand Prix, with the top 28 combinations qualifying. Al Zabibi secured top honours aboard 1st Queen for owner Nawader Alnabooda. Emirati rider Abdalla Al Kirbi jumped NN Contre Attack MQ into second place, while compatriot Ghanem Al Hajri finished third riding Lelielounka STW.
In the evening session, the spotlight shifted to the CSI Under 25 Series, supported by the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, where emerging talent continued to impress in the 1.35m Two-Phase Special.
Abdalla Al Kirbi claimed victory aboard Georgina Z, owned by Sharjah Equestrian & Racing Club, with Eman Al Saffar, also from the UAE, on Jade HPE and Uzbekistan’s Akbar Sharipov riding Affir, rounding out the results and bringing the opening day of competition to a close.
The Show continues until Sunday with a packed sporting schedule building towards the €320,000 Al Shira’aa Longines CSI4*-W Diamond Tour FEI World Cup Grand Prix in the evening.
