GOOD WEEK FOR UAE RIDERS, BUT BREEN TAKES TOP DUBAI PRIZE

By Duane Fonseca

Ireland’s Trevor Breen snapped up the top prize at the Virtus International Show Jumping Cup 2023 when he clinched victory in the Virtus Grand Prix aboard Germaine W with a faultless ride in a time of 41.73 seconds at Emirates Equestrian Centre in Dubai last week.

A FAULTLESS QUARTET

The one round with jump-off event where fences were set at a height of 1.45m witnessed the participation of 47 rider/horse pairs, with Breen one of four riders to ride faultlessly over both rounds. Among those that rode without a fault in the first round, Egypt’s Amr Gamal Mohammed on Gerlain was quickest with a time of 73.36s, with the UAE’s Mohammed Shafi Al Remeithi next best with a time of 74.25s.

Breen, strategically, ensured he qualified for the second round with a relatively slower time of 78.15s as he took Germaine W for a first round recce, which set him up nicely for the moment of truth that saw him finish a little under half a second quicker than Al Remeithi who was second best yet again and settled for the runner-up spot with a time of 42.14s on Caramba.

He was joined on the podium by Emirati compatriot Salim Khamis Al Suwaidi, who secured third place aboard Zadora with a time of 45.96s. UAE riders managed to reverse the podium order in the Mini Grand Prix, which was also conducted according to a one round with jump-off format.

Jumping obstacles set at 1.3m, Moufi Owaida Al Karbi claimed the top spot on Hollywood Du Cedre with a time of 28.32s, followed by UAE countryman Al Suwaidi on Cimberly 23, who clocked 28.95s, while Breen was forced to settle for third with 29.41s on the clock aboard Toyger, the trio topping a list of nine riders that rode without a fault in the jump-off.

Emirati rider Abdelrahman Alabdouli won the 1.2m ShakoMakoApp event on Dancefloor D’Orival with a time of 31.94s, with Dimitrios Natsis of Greece second on the back of Hidalgo VH Neerhof Z with 32.23s and Abdulla Ahmed Al Shurafa of the UAE third on Viva with 33.04s.

The Date Room GP Qualifier 1.4m category (one round) was won by Al Suwaidi on Diamond Way with a time of 58.65s, with Al Remeithi second on Caramba with 59.13s and Jordan’s Sara Hussein Al Armouti third with 59.76s on Gladiator-P. UAE’s Ali Mufarrej Al Karbi landed the Majesticq Costume Class Accumulator (1.15m) on Calvaro’s Star with 47.47s, while the Du Cup 1.3m event was snapped up by Abdalla Hamad Al Kirbi aboard Demphis with 53.53s.

Al Suwaidy and Diamond Way won the UAEERF GP Qualifier (1.4m) with a time of 60.36s, while the du Cup Special Two Phases event saw Mohammed Hamad Al Kirbi grab the honours aboard Chantal with 29.10s. The Hoof Opening Cup (1.15m) was won by Ali Ahmed Arafat of Egypt on Finch with a time of 52.87s.