A flawless twelfth-hour round by Kevin Staut in Friday’s CSI5* 1.50 class offered spectators a grand finale on the fifth day of CHI Al Shaqab. The 2009 European Champion and 2010 and 2014 WEG jumping silver medallist was the very last rider in the class on Quismy des Vaux HDC (Dollar dela Pierre x Super de Bourriere) to try the twelve-fence challenge, and succeeded in catching the leading time set at a very early stage by Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann and For Sale 6 (For Pleasure x Cassini I) shaving off 0.45 seconds on his time. Cassio Rivetti and Chataga (Chacco-Blue x Carthago) were fast enough to grab third place with a time almost two seconds behind that of Staut.  

“I am extremely happy to win here. I was doing my best and it brought the result,” Staut said after his win. “The equestrian facilities at CHI Al Shaqab are totally incredible. It shows the serious attitude to all things equestrian.”