Text © World of Showjumping.com

The Commercial Bank CHI Al Shaqab Grand Prix presented by Longines concluded a weekend of top sport in Doha, Qatar on Saturday evening. 

The best 18 pairs out of the 41 horse-and-rider combinations in the 1.60m Grand Prix continued into round two. With some of the very best in the world present at the beautiful Al Shaqab facilities, the quality really showed as 17 of them went on to round two with a score of zero. However, the second round – though shorter and slightly less technical than the first –  turned things around. Eventually, eight pairs produced a clear and continued into the deciding jump-off: Scott Brash (GBR) on Hello Senator (Carambola x Indoctro), Julien Epaillard (FRA) on Alibi de la Roque (Mylord Carthago x Kannan), Maurice Tebbel (GER) on Don Diarado (Diarado x Lord Lancer), Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) on Katanga vh Dingeshof (Cardento x Tornedo FCS), Christian Ahlmann (GER) on Dominator 2000 Z (Diamant de Semilly x Cassini I), Roger Yves Bost (FRA) on Sangria du Coty (Quaprice Bois Margot x Muguet du Manor), Max Kühner (AUT) on Elektric Blue P (Eldorado vd Zeshoek x For Pleasure) and Daniel Deusser (GER) on Killer Queen VDM (Eldorado vd Zeshoek x For Pleasure). 

In the jump-off, Kühner and the 9-year-old gelding Elektric Blue set the time to beat to 39.39 seconds. Although Bost and Sangria du Coty gave it a good go, they slotted in behind with a time of 39.68. However, as third last to go, Deusser and the 10-year-old mare Killer Queen clocked a time of 38.90 – pushing Kühner into second and Bost into third. Finally, when Epaillard – who has been in tremendous form over the past weeks – had to see a pole fall, the victory was secured for Deusser and Killer Queen, a horse that seems to have a name worth remembering. 

"To be honest it was a tough competition today, already from the format with two rounds and a jump-off," Deusser commented afterwards. "Even though the second round was a bit shorter, the fences were really, really big today. However, Killer Queen loves these kind of venues, with big arenas and huge fences. She has a huge stride and that is why I took her here to Al Shaqab," he continued. "She is only ten, but in the last six months she has developed really well. If she continues this way, she is probably my number one horse by the summer." Speaking of his tactics for the deciding jump-off, Deusser smiled: "There was nothing to think about; I had to be as fast as possible. My horse has a huge stride and on these long lines like today, she is simply quicker than other ones. I can go forward and leave strides out easily." 

Also second placed Kühner has lots of hope invested in his horse, the 9-year-old Elektric Blue. "We bought him as a 2-year-old," he explained. "Back then, his way of jumping was just so easy, and today he cleared these difficult rounds with such ease. We have big hopes for him for the future." 

Third placed Roger Yves Bost was pleased with his result: "I said when I finished, that I won't win because I did one more stride to the last fence. But I am very happy tonight." 

Earlier during the day, the CSI5* 1.45m went to Annika Axelsson (SWE) on Haloubet Hitchcock (Baloubet du Rouet x Heartbreaker). Jur Vrieling (NED) on Fiumicino van de Kalevallei (Plot Blue x Nabab de Reve) took the runner-up position, while Titouan Schumacher (FRA) on Eliot Brimbelles Z (ET Cryozootech Z CL x Diamant de Semilly) took the third spot. Fourth place went to Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) on Edinburgh (Vleut x Darco), and fifth to Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) on J'Adore van het Schaeck (Vagabond de la Pomme x Darco).