Mar, 2024
Spectators at the €375,000 Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Doha witnessed a sensational showdown at the Longines Arena in Al Shaqab, with 10 riders facing off in the jump off. It was Belgium’s Abdel Saïd and the remarkable, Bonne Amie who secured a narrow victory to claim the first title of the season.
Not only did they come out with the win, but the pair were also catapulted to the very top of the table in the prestigious LGCT Championship race. after collecting maximum points tonight with a spectacular sound and light show at the prize-giving ceremony. This rounded off three days of the incredible show jumping, beginning the quest to find the 2024 Global Champion.
Abdel and Bonne Amie went head to head with fellow RED MILLS Rider Harry Allen and his mount Calculatus, in two electrifying rounds. The two pairings were separated only by the narrowest margins, a mere 0.21 seconds to secure Saïd’s first ever LGCT Grand-Prix win and landing him at the very top of the podium.
Abdel and Bonne Amie are established players on the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix starting grid, having put in number of stellar performances in 2023. However, the duo had never quite secured the elusive win. Speaking about Bonne Amie, Abdel said: “I am really delighted with her, she’s an incredible horse but she’s a sensitive big lady. I struggled a little in the jump-offs last year, I would maybe override her a little or not ride with enough feeling… but today it felt as though she matured and grew with some small changes and I am really thrilled that it came together today, she truly deserves this win.”
Abdel’s victory also secured him the very first coveted spot in the LGCT Super Grand Prix at the GC Playoffs that will be held in Riyadh later this year. Abdel continued “To be here in this incredible venue at Al Shaqab is an incredible feeling – a mix of the hospitality, the venue, the organization by the team at Global Champions, it couldn’t be a better time for it all to come together.” Multiple Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix-winner, Bertram Allen was in Doha to support brother Harry Allen. Harry spoke of a well-executed plan that landed both himself and Calculatus in a very close second place. “I was very lucky, Bertram flew out yesterday to help me – we made a very good plan and it all came together. I’m absolutely delighted, my horse couldn’t have jumped better”.
The fierce competition was clearly enjoyed by spectators who were out of their seats, cheering at the top of their lungs. Although in was Abdel and Bonne Amie that claimed the victory, there were a number of other performances that grabbed the attention of spectators.
Aside from Saïd and Allen, there were only two other double clear rounds coming from from Wilm Vermeir on Iq van het Steentje, and the first of the evening, Abdulrahman Alrajhi with Ventago, securing impressive 4th and 5th place finishes, respectively. Meanwhile in his quest to better last years second-place finish, Christian Kukuk, took some bold risks but was ultimately relegated to 6th place after a rail down with Checker 47.
Marcus Ehning is a rider that has secured his spot in the Longines Global Champions Tour History books, having stood on the top of the Longines Global Champions Tour podium as the overall season champion in 2010. In the official press conference, Ehning spoke of the new partnership he and Coolio 42 have. He said: “Coolio is quite a new horse for me, I have had him for maybe half a year. Yesterday he was double clear in the GCL, and today double clear again, I am very excited for the future and more than happy.”
As always, the course proved challenging as many top combinations struggled to master the challenges of the substantial 1.60m track built by Uliano Vizzani. It was top sporting entertainment for the fans watching around the world on GCTV. With 38 combinations fired up for action, it was soon clear that these challenges started from the outset, with the line between fences 1 and 2 proving to be one of the trickiest lines in the course, with several riders opting to retire like previous LGCT Grand Prix winning combinations of Malin Baryard-Johnsson on H&M Indiana and Sanne Thijssen with Con Quidam RB.
Olivier Perreau and Gl Events Dorai d’Aiguilly fought valiantly but couldn’t match the pace, settling for 7th overall also on 4 faults. An incredible story of the evening was Eduardo Alvarez Aznar and the seasoned 19-year-old Rokfeller de Pleville Bois Margot, after an early fault in the jump-off they opted for a steadier pace but good enough to finish into the top 10. Making his debut on the tour last season, Philipp Schulze Topphoff and Carla Nrw demonstrated their raw talent and consistency yet again with 9th overall after the lightest of touches in the jump-off. Meanwhile rounding off the top 10, last year’s LGCT Grand Prix of Paris winners, Christian Ahlmann and Mandato van de Neerheide, faced challenges as it wasn’t their day and finished with 12 faults. The LGCT Grand Prix of Doha once again set the stage for an exhilarating season ahead, with Saïd and Bonne Amie setting the bar high. As the Championship race now heads to America for LGCT Miami Beach from 3 – 6 April, anticipation mounts for what is guaranteed to be a one of a kind 2024 season!
