By Rizwan Rehmat
DOHA: Experienced rider Luciana Diniz yesterday produced a perfectly-timed routine with Fit For Fun 13 to win the Emir’s Sword competition.
Diniz scaled the heights in Doha once again, this time at the Main Arena of the Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF) where she guided Fit For Fun 13 to an impressive win.
Fit For Fun 13, who produced a flawless routine in the jump-off of the 160cm class, won in a time of 33.22 seconds following two successful rounds earlier in the competition.
Qatar’s Faleh Suwead Al Ajami, who was astride Come Soon, finished in second spot in a time of 36.39 seconds. Al Ajami was one of three riders to produce a flawless routine.
Frenchman Frederic David, astride Ecuador Van’t Roosaker, sealed the third place in a time of 36.80 seconds.
Qatar’s Rio-bound rider Sheikh Ali bin Khalid Al Thani joined his second-choice ride Anyway II to grab the fourth spot.
Anyway II, who won the feature competition on Friday, yesterday clocked a time of 33.25 seconds but slipped down the pecking order by tripping one obstacle.
Liberty Son 2, ridden by Germany’s Philipp Weishaupt, finished fifth in a time of 33.76 seconds.
Diniz, who picked up the top prize of QR 253,077, received the Emir’s Sword from Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) premises.
“It was a special moment for me to receive the Sword from the Emir. It was very, very special. I really loved it. It was a feeling I will never forget in my life,” Diniz said.
“Yes, I am very happy, I had a great feeling today with Fit For Fun 13 and now we are both satisfied and happy,” Diniz said.
“It is always a pleasure to be here.
“No,” Diniz said when asked if she was expecting a win at the start of the day.
“Because I was looking for points and hoping for double clears and I was happy with the top placement. I would have been happy if I had been placed well (smiles).
“It turns out the luck came my way. And we won in the jump-off. God was with me and it is fantastic,” Diniz said.
The Portuguese rider said she was feeling confident going into next week’s CHI Al Shaqab.
“Yes, for sure,” she said when if she could do well next week. “I love being here. I love Al Shaqab. I think we are in a very good position for next week,” Diniz said.
Sheikh Khalid, who picked up QR 76,690 for his fourth-placed finish, praised Diniz for her admirable riding.
“Of course, Luciana is one of the best riders in the world. She had best horse in the world, if not the best then the second best in the world. She deserves this win,” Sheikh Khalid said.
The ace Qatari rider said he was pleased with three days of riding and the net results.
“As you see, it was tough for the horses to run three rounds. I didn’t plan to run him (Anyway II). I had a better horse than him but he had health issues. I took a risk with Anyway II,” Sheikh Khalid said.
“He did great job together. We finished in fourth place. We were looking for the first place but we are still happy with the fourth spot,” he said.
“My best horse (Vienna Olympic) wasn’t ready so I went with this one. Thank God, we had a good result. A Qatari rider finished second today. The show is successful for us.
“We will forget this one. We will now look to the future events,” Sheikh Khalid said
In competition 7, Saudi Arabia’s Ramzy Hamad Al Duhami raced to a win with his reliable ride Garlic VH Kapelhof in the 155cm class.
Garlic VH Kapelhof clocked a time of 67.79 seconds (against the clock) as Al Duhami picked up the top prize of QR 115,075.
Turkish rider Derin Demirsoy guided Narazo De Nyze Z to second spot when his ride finished the competition in a time of 68.62 seconds.
Demirsoy, a regular visitor to Qatar, picked up the top prize of QR 92,060 in the five-star class.
Turkish riding star Omer Karaevli completed the top three when he guided Cortani to third spot in a time of 69.81 seconds. Karaevli won QR 69,045 for his efforts.
Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Alsharbatly (Little Pezi) was fourth, a position that earned the visiting rider QR 46,030.
Popular Australian rider Edwina Tops-Alexander grabbed the fifth place with Clinton, earning herself a neat sum of QR 32,221.
The Peninsula
