Abdullah Al Sharbatly (KSA) won Friday's feature class at the CSI5*-W event in Dubai, the 1.55m Azizi Golden Cup. 

Riding the 13-year-old gelding Crazy Quick (Chacco-Blue x Quick Star), Al Sharbatly was one of seven riders producing a clear in the winning round that counted twelve riders – recording the fastest time in 46.55 seconds. Al Sharbatly got company of his compatriot Ramzy Al Duhami on the podium, first on High Quality J (Quadrillo x Nabab de Reve) as second placed and then on Ted (Waranta x Jalisco B) as third with a time of 47.31 and 49.28 seconds respectively. Celine Schoonbroodt-De Azevedo (BEL) finished fourth, and Frederic David (FRA) fifth. 

Al Sharbatly has his eyes firmly placed on Saturday’s Emirates Airline Grand Prix, which he has won multiple times in the past: “It was not an easy course, it is designed by Bob Ellis who I believe is one of the best two-course designers in the world. He built it very technical, the combinations were very short, there were difficult lines in the first round, and even the second round was tough. You needed a lot of power, you needed to ride perfect, you needed to be a top rider and you needed a tough horse, otherwise you would have no chance. I hope I can win tomorrow, it will be tough, but I will try.”

Earlier in the day, Nigel Coupe (GBR) won the 1.45m Gulf News Cup – also counting for the world ranking. Riding Glovers Hill (Ricardo Z x Clover Hill), Coupe left Khalid Hilal Al Khatri (BRN) on Sierra (Silvio x unknown) behind him in second and Derin Demirsoy (TUR) on Dadjak ter Puttenen (Toulon x Vanitas) in third. 

Text and photo © World of Showjumping