Abdullah Al Sharbatly wins Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in Shanghai

Riding Tobalio, Al Sharbatly produced a clear round as last-to-go in the competition to take the honours ahead of Germany’s Marco Kutscher and The Netherlands Marc Houtzager in a five-way jump-off.

2016 marked the third year of the LGCT making its visit to Shanghai and the 1.60m Grand Prix saw a few big names return to the arena for the first time this season. Ludger Beerbaum’s horse Chaman and Kutscher’s Van Gogh were back in the show ring for the first time after a long break. Maikel van der Vleuten’s top horse VDL Groep Verdi TN N.O.P. was also one of the headliners, as was LGCT ranking leader Christian Ahlmann’s Colorit, both of whom looked on fantastic form throughout the Grand Prix.

The world’s top three riders were among the starters for the 2016 Shanghai LGCT Grand Prix as total of 13 riders progressed with clear round, including Beerbaum and Chaman, Ahlmann with Colorit, Scott Brash and Hello Forever, Edwina Tops-Alexander with Caretina de Joter, and Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani with Vienna Olympic leading the way into the next round of competition.

Round two saw a longer course making full use of the arena which saw Michael Whitaker and Viking picked up an unlucky four faults after clipping a fence towards the end of the course, and Brash had an unusual refusal with Hello Forever. Belgium’s Olivier Philippaerts, Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano, world number one Simon Delestre and van der Vleuten, all picked up four faults putting them out of contention.

The jump-off saw five riders line up to take their shot at the title with first to go being Edwina Tops-Alexander of Australia on Caretina de Joter. The LGCT Grand Prix of Miami Beach winner rode a typically classy round, setting the pace at 43.45 seconds as the time to beat.

Next up was Houtzager with Sterrehof’s Calimero and the pair pipped Tops-Alexander’s time by just tenths of a second, crossing the finish in 43.26 seconds.

Kutscher with Van Gogh then entered the arena and right from the outset the pair shaved time at every corner possible, eventually stopping the clock in 42.27 seconds, just shy of a full second ahead of the previous two riders.

Ahlmann with Colorit was next to go but despite an impressive time of 40.68 seconds they collected four faults to move out of contention.

It meant the last to go combination of Al Sharbatly and Tobalio knew they had Kutscher and Van Gogh to beat, and they produced a fine display with a clear round in 41.97 seconds to complete the victory.

After the competition it was revealed that the LGCT and partner Juss Event have signed a long-term agreement for the future of the event in Shanghai, which has become a dynamic fixture on the circuit’s international calendar.

The unique five star event in China was part of a strategic expansion by the tour into Asia and has quickly become a hot favourite with spectators who queued early today to ensure their seats for the Grand Prix. The announcement of the new agreement marks a definitive commitment to the progress of the sport in Asia in future years.

The Longines Global Champions Tour now moves onto the German city of Hamburg from 4 to 7 May 2016.
LONGINES GLOBAL CHAMPIONS TOUR GRAND PRIX OF SHANGHAI
Result

1 Tobalio (Abdullah Alsharbatly) Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 0 faults 41.97 seconds jump-off
2 Van Gogh (Marco Kutscher) Germany 0/ 42.27
3 Sterrehof”s Calimero (Marc Houtzager) The Netherlands 0/ 43.26
4 Caretina de Joter (Edwina Tops-Alexander) Australia 0/ 43.45
5 Colorit (Christian Ahlmann) Germany 4/ 40.68

LONGINES GLOBAL CHAMPIONS TOUR 2016
Overall standings after leg 4 – Shanghai, China

1. Christian Ahlmann Germany 129 points
2. Emanuele Gaudiano Italy 96
3. John Whitaker Great Britain 85
4. Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani Qatar 76
5. Edwina Tops-Alexander Australia 73
6. Simon Delestre France 64
7. Rolf-Goran Bengtsson Sweden 64
8. Kevin Staut France 60
9. Maikel van der Vleuten Netherlands 57
10. Jos Verlooy Belgium 56