Text © World of Showjumping

The 2024-edition of CHI Al Shaqab in Doha, Qatar, continued on Friday with an Italian victory in the CSI5* 1.55m jump-off class, counting for the Longines Ranking Group A. 

Nineteen out of the 38 horse-and-rider combinations at start cleared the first-round track set by Uliano Vezzani (ITA) and when Marcus Ehning (GER) opted not to take part in the jump-off, it was left to be a battle between 18 pairs. In the end, the win went to Italy, with Emanuele Gaudiano and Chalou (Chacco-Blue x Baloubet du Rouet) stopping the clock on 34.49 seconds – only fractions faster than Jeanne Sadran (FRA) and Kosmo van Hof Ter Boone (Arko III x Pachat II), who with their time of 34.55 had to settle for the runner-up spot. 

Malin Baryard-Johnsson (SWE) and H&M Indiana (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Animo's Hallo) placed third in 35.00, while living legend John Whitaker (GBR) and his faithful Equine America Unick du Francport (Zandor x Helios de la Cour II) took the fourth place in 35.47 ahead of Pieter Devos (BEL) and Casual DV Z (Cornet Obolensky x Cicero Z) in fifth in 35.79. 

The second CSI5* class of the day, a 1.45m speed and handiness counting for the Longines Ranking Group D, went to Abdullah Alsharbatly (KSA) and Dancing Wolf O.L (Mylord Carthago x Contender). With a time of 59.58, AlSharbatly took the win ahead of Emanuele Gaudiano and Vasco 118 (Vivant x Chacco-Blue) in second in 60.34 and Olivier Perreau (FRA) aboard Bresil de Carnaval Santa Rosa (Mylord Carthago x Rosire) in third in 60.58.