Sheik Ali Abdulla Al Qassimi provided the hosts with a home win in Saturday's Emirates Airline Dubai Grand Prix FEI World Cup. Riding the 10-year-old mare Cacharel (Coltaire Z x Libertino), the 24-year-old went off with the victory in this Arab League World Cup competition set at a height of 1.40-1.60m that counted 32 riders. 

Only two combinations managed to stay clear in both rounds, and against the clock Sheik Ali Abdulla Al Qassimi had the margins on his side as only 0.02 seconds separated him from Norwegian runner-up Anita Sande on For Cash 2 (For Pleasure x Cassini I) earning him the top prize of AED 80,000.

Sheikh Ali Al Qassimi said he was pleased to have given the home country a significant victory especially since he was riding a young mare. “It took me a few minutes to realize I had won this,” he said. “It is a big show for me and a World Cup qualification with a new mare, and we have just been preparing regularly for a few months, and following our normal routine and I am very thankful for this win.”

French rider Frederic David had one fence down in the second round, and finished third with Equador van't Roosakker (Nabab de Reve x Chin Chin). Home rider Mohammed Ahmed Al Owais ended fourth, and Saudi rider Abdelkarim Abbar fifth.

Source: Press release from Emirates Equestrian Centre.// Picture © Emirates Equestrian Centre