Thursday’s feature class, the 1.50m CSIO5* Longines Grand Prix Qualifier, saw 53 combinations come forward over a technical track devised by Chief Course Designer Frank Rothenberger (GER) that tested scope and precision.

Fourteen progressed to the jump-off, but it was Italy’s Piergiorgio Bucci aboard Casalia DG (Casall x Carthago) who clinched the win in 43.35s, just fractions ahead of Emirati superstar Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi riding Emeraude De Zabala (Emerald Van 't Ruytershof x Calvaro Z), who finished second, clear in 43.87s. Jack Whitaker, representing Great Britain with D&G Valmy de La Lande (Mylord carthago x Starter) jumped into third place in this €105,500 class.

Five-star action began in earnest with the CSIO5* Al Khail Square Welcome Stakes at 1.45m, where 42 combinations tackled a technical course in one round against the clock. Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi was second to jump and immediately set a commanding early benchmark aboard Chacolu, stopping the clock in 76.24s. The Emirati rider held the lead for much of the class, applying pressure to the field as combination after combination failed to better his time. It was not until Ireland’s Shane Breen entered the arena late in the order with the experienced Scarteen that the leaderboard shifted. Producing a bold round, Breen knocked almost eight seconds off Al Muhairi’s time to storm into the lead in 68.56s and secure victory. France’s Olivier Perreau completed the podium aboard GL Events Dorai d’Aiguilly in 77.56s, as several Longines League of Nations™ contenders fine-tuned preparations ahead of Friday’s team competition.

Result