Daniel Deusser & Happiness van T Paradijs. Ph. Stefano Grasso/LGCT
It was a case of “Happiness” by name, happiness by nature as Daniel Deusser of Germany ensured the spotlight was on him with a win in the opening class at the Longines Global Champions Tour of Doha CSI5* on Friday, November 4, 2016.
On his talented 9 year old chestnut mare Happiness van T Paradijs and shining bright under the brilliant floodlights, the World Number 5 took the lion’s share of the €25,000 prize money, setting up his weekend in Qatar perfectly.
Both LGCT Ranking leader Rolf-Göran Bengtsson of Sweden and Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander rode their grand prix horses in this two phase competition, with Casall ASK and Lintea Tequila jumping clear. The two Olympic riders looked pretty evenly matched, both picking up 1 time fault apiece and finishing just tenths of a second apart. Tops-Alexander and Lintea Tequila finished on 61.01 seconds, with Goran-Bengtsson and Casall ASK finishing on 61.84 second, giving an early preview into just how evenly matched the to LGCT 2016 Championship contenders are.
Uliano Vezzani’s course was a clean test for the world class combinations as they took to the floodlit arena for the first of the Longines Global Champions Tour competitions, with AL SHAQAB illuminated in the depth of the Qatari night. The triple combination along the full length of the arena caused a few troubles, with the final element signifying the end of the first phase rolled by the lightest of touches. Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum of Germany had a surprise refusal from the huge striding Fibonacci, and World Number 1 Christian Ahlmann of Germany collected 7 faults with stallion Taloubet Z.
World Number 2, Simon Delestre of France fared better with Chadino, finishing in 10th overall, and Ludger Beerbaum of Germany with Chiara rounded out the 11 riders who jumped clear. But it was Daniel Deusser of Germany and Happiness van T Paradijs who took the victory, storming to the win in 24.47s.
Great Britain’s Laura Renwick and MHS Washington looked set to challenge for the lead, however galloped to the finish just shy of Deusser’s time, in 24.75 seconds. Third place went to Olympic Silver medallist Peder Fredericson of Sweden with H&M Zaloubet, Jos Verlooy of Belgium and Farfelu de la Pomme took fourth, John Whitaker of Great Britain and Argento were 5th and brother Michael Whitaker of Great Britain rounded out the top six with JB’s Hot Stuff.
See the complete results link here.