The CHI Al Shaqab came to close on Saturday night with the CSI5* 1.60m Al Shaqab Grand Prix by Longines. Experience excelled in this main class as Malin Baryard-Johnsson steered to success aboard of H&M Indiana.
Only twelve out of nearly 40 combinations made it into the jump-off. The top three al managed to finish within the same time frame. The fastest time was set by Malin Baryard-Johnsson. The Swedish rider steered to a clear round aboard of H&M Indiana, a 16yo mare by Kashmir van Schuttershof finishing in 43,19s. Only four hundredths of a second later came Eduardo Alvarez Aznar. In the saddle of the already 19yo Rokfeller de Pleville Bois Margot, the Spaniard had a time of 43,23s which left him in second position. Belgium's Wilm Vermeir also had quite some experience under his saddle with the 16yo Iq van het Steentje (Toulon). The pair came in third with a time of 43,88s.
The Belgian riders made their mark as Pieter Devos took fourth place with Jarina J, a 10yo mare by Cicero Z Van Paemel. The fifth and last clear jump-off was ridden by John Whitaker and Equine America Unick du Francport (Zandor).