By Duane Fonseca
Italian rider Emanuele Gaudiano landed the top prize and took a massive bite out of prize purse on offer at the CSI5*-W Grand Prix HH Ruler of Sharjah Cup last week. Riding 14yo chestnut Chalou, Gaudiano negotiated the course where obstacles were set at a height of 1.55m without any penalties and was clocked at 45.81 seconds, the quickest time in the second round for which only 12 riders qualified, including Moufi Owaida Al Karbi, who placed ninth overall after four penalties and a time of 48.61s aboard Baloucenta.
On the other hand, Gaudiano was one of the three riders to make their trips without any fault and these finished on the podium: Portugal’s Seabra Duarte on Dourados 2 finishing second with 48.05s on the clock and Ireland’s Trevor Breen who was third on Germaine W with a time of 51.14s. Ireland’s Shane Breen won the CSI2* Grand Prix presented by Longines (1.45m) aboard Instrumental with a faultless ride and a time of 37.51s in the jump-off, with Syria’s Osama Al Zabibi narrowly behind in second on BEC Hugo with the only other faultless ride and a time of 37.81s.
Finishing third was Egor Shchibrik on Ilero with four penalties and a time of 40.22s. Jessica Burke capped a fruitful final day of the event for Ireland winning the CSI5* UAE Equestrian Federation Winning Round (1.55m) aboard Express Trend with a time of 35.51s and no penalties. A tenth of a second behind as runner-up was Gaudiano on Julius D with a time of 35.61s, while Ahmad Saber Hamcho of Syria was third on Vintadge de la Roque with 35.81s on the clock.
Gaudiano and Julius D had won the Cavalor Challenge (1.45m) a day earlier with a time of 57.97s, with Saudi Arabia’s Ramzy Al Duhami second on High Quality J with 59.04s on the clock, while Duarte had grabbed the Sharjah Sports Council Cup (1.50m) honours aboard HHS Washington with a faultless ride completed in 39s. Amre Hamcho of Syria placed second on Vagabon des Forets with 41.44s and no faults. Duarte also won the Hoof Cup (six bars) with Fernhill Check Your Pocket.
