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“Ventago is on FIRE!”- Alrajhi Victorious on opening day of Longines Global Champions Tour of Doha
The Longines Global Champions Tour of Doha commenced with a bang today at the prestigious Longines Arena at Al Shaqab, as the crowd was treated to an electrifying display of top sport and entertainment. With 32 of the world's best riders and horses setting the stage for an unforgettable start to the 2024 season in the CSI5* 1.45m speed class.
A head-to-head for first and second from two of Saudi Arabia’s top show jumping riders, it was Abdulrahman Alrajhi aboard the head-turning Ventago who stormed to the lead. Alrajhi's spectacular performance ignited the fierce competition that is set to unfold over the weekend. In a nail-biting finish, he edged out his Saudi teammate, Abdullah Alsharbatly, and the spirited Dancing Wolf O.L by a mere 0.20 seconds, proving that every fraction of a second counts in the world of show jumping.
Speaking to GCTV Alrajhi explained: “It is always special to win a [Longines] Global [Champions Tour] class and even more special in Doha, especially in front of this crowd. Such an amazing facility in Al Shaqab. Honestly, I must say Ventago is on fire, he is such a great horse and I am very happy to have him and I think he made it with almost zero effort… it felt like he was just playing with the class and he won it!”
A beaming Alrajhi went on to add: “The class suited him, and of course, we had one of the best course designers in the world, Uliano Vezzani. It is a nice class to win without putting in an extreme effort, and I am thrilled with this preparation for the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Doha this Saturday.”
Adding to the international flair of the event, the Flying Frenchman, Olivier Perreau, clinched the third spot with Bresil de Carnaval Santa Rosa, launching his week with style and finesse.
With a total of 15 clear rounds, the competition was nothing short of exhilarating. Mouda Zeyada on Katia and Ines Joly aboard the vibrant Faylinn de Fondcombe rounded off the top five, leaving spectators on the edge of their seats.
Notably, both Philipp Schulze Topphoff and Nadja Peter Steiner opted for a steady round, collecting time faults strategically to conserve their horse power for the high-stakes challenges ahead, hinting at the thrilling battles yet to come.
The Top Ten Uncovered
1st Place - Abdulrahman Alrajhi & Ventago
2nd Place - Abdullah Alsharbatly & Dancing Wolf O.L
3rd Place - Olivier Perreau & Bresil de Carnaval Santa Rosa
4th Place - Mouda Zeyada & Katia
5th Place - Ines Joly & Faylinn de Fondcombe
6th Place - Eduardo Alvarez Aznar & D’orient Batilly
7th Place - Antoine Ermann & Odin van’t Hanegoor
8th Place - John Whitaker & Arqana de Rieverland
9th Place - Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann & Cesmu KJ
10th Place - Malin Baryard-Johnsson & Diamantino 16
As the sun sets on an extraordinary first day, anticipation mounts for tomorrow's highlight event: the GCL Championship race kick off. GCL Doha promises an adrenaline-fueled spectacle with two back-to-back rounds of top-tier team show jumping, setting the stage for an epic showdown of talent, teamwork, and triumph.
