H.E. Major General Dr Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi, President of the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, FEI President Ingmar De Vos and Patrick Aoun, Longines Regional Brand Manager for the Middle East and Southeast Asia and His Excellency Sultan Al Yahyai, Chairman of the Show Jumping Committee of the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, Director General of the Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club with Henrik von Eckermann, David Will and Rolf-Göran Bengtsson. Photo © UAEERF/ Nour Al Masri.
Text © World of Showjumping
Friday's highlight in Abu Dhabi (UAE) was the CSIO5* 1.60m President of the UAE Showjumping Cup presented by Longines. Jumped over two rounds, the class counting for the Longines Ranking Group AA saw 38 horse-and-rider-combinations line up at start – ten of which moved on to the second round.
With a time of 44.68 in the second round, Germany's David Will and the 10-year-old Zinedream (Zinedine x Contender) took the win ahead of Sweden's Henrik von Eckermann – current world no. one – and the 14-year-old King Edward (Edward x Feo), who had to settle for the runner-up spot when the clock stopped on 46.10 for the double world champion. Von Eckermann's compatriot and team-mate Rolf-Göran Bengtsson and the 12-year-old Zuccero HV (VDL Zirocco Blue x Caretino) placed third with a time of 50.79 seconds – posting the third and last double clear of the class.
“I’m delighted with this win," David Will said in a press release from The President of the UAE Showjumping Cup 2024. "Zinedream is still stepping up to this level, and with saving my more experienced horse for Sunday’s Longines League of Nations™, I thought we’d see how he does today and he did not disappoint! He surprised us all and we couldn’t be happier.“
With one time penalty collected in round two, Switzerland's Barbara Schnieper and Canice (Cascadello x Cornet Obolensky) finished fourth followed by Belgium's Gregory Wathelet and Ace of Hearts (Aliandro B x Ra) in fifth with a score of four faults in round two.
Friday's second CSIO5* class, the 1.45m UAE Equestrian Federation Speed Stakes – a class counting for the Longines Ranking Group D – went to France's Olivier Perreau and Bresil Carnaval Santa Rosa (Mylord Carthago x Rosire) ahead of Great Britain's Joseph Stockdale and Equine America Cacharel (Cachas x Quinar Z) in second, followed by Switzerland's Janika Sprunger aboard Kinmar Scarlett (Akarad Hero Z x Lys de Darmen) in third.
Then