A competitive field lined up for the 1.55m CSI5*-W H.H. Sharjah Ruler Cup presented by Longines. Course designer Louis Koninckx set a challenging track, where seven combinations managed to produce double clear rounds. In the end, it was Abdel Saïd who jumped to victory aboard his 11-year-old Quaker Brimbelles Z (Quicksilver St Simeon)!
Abdel Said and the 11-year-old son of Quicksilver St Simeon secured the win with a time of 50.18 seconds. Just before the turn of the year, the pair also claimed victory in the Al Ain World Cup!
"Quaker is a top horse, but still quite green at this level. Over the past year, he has gained more experience, and that is clearly showing now," Abdel shared afterwards. "He is incredibly consistent and shows a lot of promise for the future! Today, I also felt the motivation to really go for it. That was the plan."
Said has been competing in the Middle East over the past few months with one specific goal in mind. "My goal was to qualify for the FEI World Cup Finals. In any case, we are heading to America now, where the horses will get some well-deserved rest..."
The duo finished over a second ahead of Sophie Hinners and the 10-year-old Zangersheide mare, Iron Dames Kaleni Jo (Kannan).
Stopping the clock at 52.81 seconds, René Tebbel secured a spot on the international podium. Tebbel followed in third place with Frédéric Vernaet's former BWP gelding, Paulus-L (Corydon van T&L).
Tebbel took over the reins of the gelding from Vernaet late last year. The pair was just under a second faster than Shane Breen and the 10-year-old gelding, BP Arctic Blue (A Pikachu de Muze). Antonia Pettersson Häggström completed the top five in the saddle of Qartoon van de Plataan (Emerald).