Martin Fuchs & Chaplin. Ph. ©Megan Docherty.
The second night of the CHI5* Al Shaqab ended in a spectacular jump off with Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs winning the €154.000 CSI5* 1.55m on Friday March 3, 2017 in Doha Qatar aboard Chaplin.
The 1.55m track, designed by German course designer Frank Rothenberger, proved that the all important time played a key aspect, with six riders stuck on just one time penalty after jumping the fences clear. Nine riders progressed to the jump off from a field of 42 entries.
Christian Ahlmann of Germany set an initial tough time to beat of 38.61 with the 10-year-old Zangersheide stallion Caribis Z (Caritano X Canabis Z). Fresh off a big win last month at the Longines Masters of Hong Kong, they would end the day in 5th place.
Fuchs, aboard his 9-year-old KWPN stallion Chaplin (Verdi X Concorde) looked in top form finishing in 9th place in 1.50m CSI5* competition against the clock Thursday night. He bettered that performance on Friday, coming in at 36.91 seconds, which made him the only rider scoring a time under 37 seconds.
It was a double of the podium for Belgium with runner up Niels Bruynseels riding the 11-year-old BWP mare Gancia de Muze (Malito de Reve x Nimmerdor) to a time of 37.47seconds, just ahead of his Belgian teammate Pieter Devos and the 12-year-old KWPN gelding Apart settling for close third place with 37.64 seconds.
Saturday’s highlight will be the CHI5* Grand Prix of Al Shaqab, at 15:00 CET.
See the complete results list at this link.