Khaled Al Eid saves his best for last at showjumping Grand Prix

ABU DHABI // Khaled Al Eid, a member of the Saudi Arabia showjumping team for the London Olympics, rode Vanhoeve to victory in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, an International Equestrian Federation (FEI) World Cup qualifier in the Middle East.

The bronze medallist in the 2000 Sydney Olympics rode two faultless rounds on the 10-year-old chestnut stallion last night to clinch the main prize of Dh106,500 and 20 FEI World Cup qualifying points, the highlight of the three-day competition at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.

Al Eid, who turned 43 earlier in the month, was the last of the eight riders in the jump-off and cleared the round with the best time of 50.38 seconds to get the better of Jorge Naeve of Germany, aboard Calado.

Marion Hughes of Ireland finished third aboard Heritage HHS Fortuna.

"It was the first time I had to go for speed on this horse and he responded brilliantly," Al Eid said.

"I am so happy for this horse. He was winning for the third time after the success in Riyadh and Morocco."

Having taken his tally to 60 points and to the top of the ranking in the Middle East leg of the qualifier, Al Eid said he will pass up April's World Cup in the Netherlands get ready for the Summer Olympics in London.

"At this moment the priority is to prepare for the Olympics and, even if I top the points, I will not go for the World Cup. The World Cup qualifier is the top-flight competition in the region and a good opportunity to prepare some of the horses.

"That's the reason I am here and not really to qualify for the World Cup. There are two places from the Middle East leg of the competition, and if I don't go, it will still provide the opportunity for the next rider with the highest points."

The UAE leg, the last of the Middle East qualifiers, consists of four competitions - Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Al Ain - in that order.

Abdullah Al Sharbatli, Al Eid's Olympic Games teammate, was the winner in Dubai but finished sixth in Abu Dhabi.

The Sharjah leg is next, from January 19 to 21. Al Ain will stage the final leg February 9 to 11.

Al Eid said his participation in the next two competitions will depend on the condition of his horse after the Abu Dhabi event.

"I have come with one horse," he said. "So it will depend on how well he has come off this competition. The plan is to provide him more experience by competing in the flight competitions in the region."

Hughes, who travels back and forth from Ireland to Dubai to work as a trainer at the Zabeel Stables, is disappointed that European riders do not receive any qualifying points.

"It is a shame because the European riders competing in the United States are eligible for World Cup points," she said.

Sheikh Latifa Al Maktoum, on Kalaska De Semilly, was the best of the Emirati riders, finishing 12th from the 25 starters.