Harrie Smolders and the feisty 13-year-old mare Regina Z ran away with the win in tonight's CSI5* 1.55m class at AL SHAQAB, Doha, setting the scene for a thrilling Grand Prix championship decider tomorrow. A close second was last night's CSI5* 1.45m winner Juan Carlos Garcia and Bonzai van de Warande, who trailed the eventual winner by just 0.5 seconds, followed by Pius Schwizer and Clever Lady in third. Looking ahead to tomorrow night's final, Championship contender Harrie Smolders - currently 11th in the overall ranking and in with a chance to be overall champion - looks to be on fantastic form having also come 2nd in last night's CSI5* 1.55m. Giving the riders a taste of what to expect tomorrow night, Uliano Vezzani's first round course demanded precision and control – it proved too technical for many experienced horse and rider combinations. A short double of uprights in the middle of the final four-fence combination claimed many. With a tight time allowed, the riders had to push on around the spectacular floodlit AL SHAQAB arena and most finished less than a second inside the 80 second allocated time. Britain's Michael Whitaker and Elie van de Kolmen set the standard in the jump-off with a swift clear in 39.80s but Harrie Smolders, who lies just 37 points behind Tour leader Laura Kraut in the ranking, immediately knocked 3s off his time. Pius Schwizer did his best to catch the fast Belgian rider, but he finished just under a second behind. The jump-off course included a tricky combination across the arena and some tight turn-back options. Just five riders jumped a double clear. The top ranking Tour riders were out to prove a point this evening ahead of the Longines Global Champions Tour Final Grand Prix tomorrow night. Although the top five Championship contenders - Laura Kraut, Christian Ahlmann, Edwina Tops Alexander, Luciana Diniz and Rolf-Goran Bengtsson - did not make it on to the podium in Doha today, the competition tomorrow will be intense with €1.45 million up for grabs. Tomorrow night's big competition will undoubtedly come down to the wire with nine of the top 11 all in contention. Legendary German rider Ludger Beerbaum admitted it was too difficult to predict the champion as the standard of competition is "so strong". The beautiful AL SHAQAB equestrian facility is unique in the world an a premier venue for equestrian sport. Top riders from show jumping, dressage and endurance come here from all over the world to compete at some of the most prestigious events in the equestrian calendar. Home to this year's 2013 Longines Global Champions Tour for the first time, AL SHAQAB is renowned for its Arabian Horse breeding programmes which have produced extraordinary World Champion stallions. Longines Global Champions Tour President Jan Tops spoke of the growth of show jumping in the Middle East region and the wider world and the excitement building ahead of the Grand Prix: "It is incredible how our sport is growing wider, there is a lot of growth. There is not one rider who has won twice (this season) so it is fantastic how many variables are still possible. It is the last event and still we have nine riders who can win the overall championship. In a place like this this place is unique in the world. It is state-of-the-art. It is a horse village and it couldn't be better than to be in a place like this." Speaking about the Grand Prix tomorrow Mr Tops said: "I think there is a lot of tension. There are a number who can win. It is difficult to say who will win. Of course, Laura has a good horse here and still is in the lead of the ranking, but on the other hand another eight riders can still win." The event at AL SHAQAB marks the climax to a sensational season with some of the most high calibre show jumping since the Tour began in 2006. Different riders have won each podium in the 12 destinations on the calendar highlighting the ferocious level of competition at the top of the sport. Edwina Tops-Alexander, champion in 2011 and 2012, is currently third in the overall ranking and in contention for the crown again. Show jumping fans across the world will be able to tune in for the Grand Prix to follow al the action via the live streaming on www.globalchampionstour.com/gct-live and on Eurosport and Al Jazeera. source: GCT
