Epaillards’s dominant run at CHI AI Shaqab continues
Doha, February 29, 2020 – His Excellency , Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, the President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) has attended the competitions of the prestigious Commercial Bank CHI Al Shaqab presented by longines on Friday.
In Friday's competitions, Julien Epaillard's winning juggernaut continued at the Commercial Bank CHI Al Shaqab Presented by Longines, with the Frenchman clinching the feature class on the second day of the championship.
Epaillard, who had won both the showjumping events on the opening day, did not put a foot wrong yesterday at the Longines Arena at Al Shaqab as he combined with 11-year-old stallion Virtuose Champeix to claim the CSI5* 1.55m class.
The 41-year-old had also won the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix Doha title last year, and there seems to be no stopping him at Al Shaqab. Going by his current form, Epaillard will now be a heavy favourite for today's Grand Prix 1.60m — the big money event of the championship.
“Yes, it was an amazing show. My horse is in top form," gushed Epaillard after another terrific win, “I did not have the best control in the jump-off. But I am very happy. I wish I could get the Grand Prix trophy tomorrow. I would like that. My horse is only 10 years old. Not so much experience for the moment. But we will try and do the best tomorrow," he added.
Twelve riders made it to the jump-off in the speed class and it looked like Scott Brash would walk away with the victory, after the British rider completed the round in 34.11 seconds with Hello Shelby.
But Epaillard, who was second but last rider at the start, beat Brash's time hands down, coming home in 33.41 seconds aboard Virtuose Champeix. Austria's Max Kuhner gave some anxious moments to Epaillard, when he scorched the course with Elektric Blue P but had to settle for second spot after timing 33.81 secs. Brash took the last podium spot with Hello Shelby – the pair having finished second on Thursday.
Spain's Eduardo Alvarez Aznar and Sweden's Henrik von Eckermann, shared the fourth place aboard Seringat and Best Boy Z respectively, after timing an identical 34.84. Earlier, in the 1.50m CSI5* class, Switzerland's Jane Richard Philips eased to victory aboard her 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood-mare, Kenia Van 'T Laerhof. The pair stopped the clock in 59.72 seconds. France's Roger Yves Bost with Castleforbes Talitha came second, while Filippo Marco Bologni of Italy finished third with Diplomat.
Meanwhile, Sweden's Patrik Kittel rode Delaunay Old to victory in the Dressage CDI5* Grand Prix. Kittel and the 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding scored 74.413 percent. The pair was on Sweden's team at the 2017 European Championships and competed in last year's World Cup Final.
Morgan Barbancon and Sir Donnerhall II OLD, France's leading combination, were second on 72.326 percent. The duo that competed at the Europeans last September may also have earned a start at the Las Vegas World Cup Final that would be their third straight annual championship.
Germany's Matthias Alexander Rath and 12-year-old stallion Foundation posted a personal best 72.034 percent for third place.
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