David Simpson on the airwaves

DERRY show jumper David Simpson made his Doha five-star TV commentating debut at CHI Al Shaqab two weeks’ ago with top anchor Aly Vance. Based in Dubai with the Team Z7 during the winter months, Simpson had a hectic schedule. He explained: “I got a call from commentator Steve Wilde to see if I could commentate Doha. It is a fantastic event and site. Everything a horse could want is here, the arena is massive and beautiful, but the facilities in the background would blow you away with stables, rubber walkways and a 1km gallop.”

Prior to the Grand Prix, Simpson added: “I would love to see Marcus Ehning win here back to back, he won last year and it will be nice to see him to it again. There’s 39 in the Grand Prix, any one of them could win. There will be no lucky winner, whoever wins tonight it will be well earned.” His horse of the show was Simon Delestre’s I Amelusina R, the chesnut 10-year-old stallion (Dexter R x Chin Chin) who won Saturday’s 1.50m speed and Friday’s 1.45m speed.

Simpson competes in Abu Dhabi and at two shows in Dubai before returning to Europe. “I would like to go to Dublin this year, I have an exceptional eight- year-old stallion Pjotr van de Kruishoeve and Dublin will really suit him. He won the Sharjah two-star Grand Prix this year and jumped his first five-star class last weekend.” While he is competing at home, his wife, the talented showjumper Louise (Pavitt) has Simpson’s horses ready for action on his return.

Irish voices in Qatar

IRISH commentators for the five-star CHI Al Shaqab included John Kyle (show jumping) and Paul Nolan (dressage). As the classes rolled from early morning, both men were committed to late nights and early starts. John Kyle not only commentated on the Longines Grand Prix, he also did a detailed course walk prior to the competition, while Paul Nolan was MC for Saturday’s dressage press conference. John stayed on to commentate at last week’s Global Champions Tour while Paul was back in Ireland for more commentating duties.

Championship horse

SIMON Delestre’s I Amelusina R, who won two classes in Doha, will be the Frenchman’s back-up horse for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. “He is a horse for everything, always improving, I am not in a rush with him but I want to push him this year. With Dexter and Cayman, I Amelusina is an option and if I need him he will be a reserve, touch wood I won’t. He is a championship horse for sure. He is 10 years old, always improving. I have three 10 year olds, Amelusina arrived in Doha a bit fresh which was good because I had been away at indoors with Dexter and Cayman. He has had four weeks not jumping but he has a massive canter and loves this big arena.”

Marshall working in Qatar

IRELAND’s European champion pony chef d’equipe Gary Marshall spends the winter months in Qatar teaching top under 18 rider Hend Al Hajri and her stable rider Faleh Suwead Al Ajami. “I return to Ireland later in the year to prepare the pony teams for a full itinerary, but I am based here during the winter months,” he told The Irish Field.

“The schedule is hectic; training and preparing for shows, but the facilities are amazing and we have lovely warm weather, and the riders are dedicated and driven to succeed.”

Hend, who has two top horses in Europe and five in Qatar, explained: “My ambition is to compete eventually at five-star level. Thanks to Gary, I have had great results in our national shows and have been five times on the podium. He has super patience and understands the psychology of what it takes to make a good rider. Gary knows not just the competition side but the mind of the rider and that’s very important.”

Serendipity (ISH) shines

QATAR’s Sheikh Khalifa Al Thani was proud as punch of his Irish-bred Luidam mare Serendipity who won a three-star 1.35m Speed class at CHI Al Shaqab recently. Bred by Martin Connaughton, Serendipity (Luidam x Garrison Royal) was cheered on by Sheikh Khalifia’s wife and three-year-old son from the sidelines as he galloped to victory in 58.92 ahead of Kuwait’s Ali Al Khorafi on the chesnut mare Karaat.

Sheikh Khalifa explained: “I have had Serendipity since she was seven. She walks in, she knows her job and she wants to do it. I bought her from a video, I thank Julie Fisher, a German dealer whom I work with a lot, and she found me this mare and told me about her many times. She has won a 1.40m class and has been placed in Grand Prix here in national classes.”

He added: “I wish to thank my wife for being behind me and for backing me to win. She is always there, always supporting me. My son too was cheering me on and I won for him today. Al Shaqab always does a great job here, in organisation they are top for everything. After this win it is a motivation for the next classes and Grand Prix.”

Despite his Qatari colleague Ghanim Nasser Al Qadi beating Sheikh Khalifa in Friday’s class with the Quidam de Revel mare Quick Step, Sheikh Khalifa was delighted with his second. “I love the mindset of Serendipity, she always wants to win, that’s for sure. She is very good at dressage and we are trained for groundwork here by Jessica Waldon.”

Sheikh Khalifa intends to breed from Serendipity in the future. “Because of her mindset and personality I would love to have a foal from her with the same brain. Maybe someday to Diamant de Semilly or another five-star stallion. I love everything about her, she is reliable and we will return to compete again in Europe.”

Sheikh Khalifa also steered Ierland VDL (Zapatero/Indorado) to runner up place in a two-phase 1.40m won by Khalid Mohammed A S Al Emadi with the 20- year-old Quel Homme.

Spacecake on winning team

TILLY Shaw and parents, Mr and Mrs Andrew Shaw from Kildare, were delighted on Monday when their mare Equine America Spacecake, formerly ridden by Ellen Whitaker, was part of the Saudi Arabia team that won the Paris 2024 Olympic qualifier at Al Shaqab. The 11-year-old mare (Stakkatolx Kannan), ridden by Khaled Almobty, had five faults in the opening round and was one of two clears in the second. Paris now beckons for Spacecake who, no doubt, will see the Shaw family there to cheer her on.

Stargold has star power

MARCUS Ehning’s Grand Prix winner Stargold was not rated by some people, the German legend revealed at CHI Al Shaqab. As reported in last week’s paper, the pair won the five-star Grand Prix for the second year in-a-row at the venue. “ He really loves the ring and has jumped so well the last two years here. He had a buck and likes to play around in a nice way. I have him now a bit more than three years, I knew from the beginning he was special… many many people didn’t believe he had the scope but he has showed it well that he has,” Ehning said.

Stargold bred some foals as a young stallion but is not breeding now due to his competition schedule with Ehning.