Doha, Qatar – March 03, 2023 – Marcus Ehning (GER) and Stargold are certainly at their brightest when the dynamic duo compete at Al Shaqab. As the German stated last week, his horse loves the stunning arena there and that was the case on Saturday as the pair claimed first place in the €30,000 GCL Second Individual Competition CSI 5*.
Once again, the German legend and the 2011 bay Oldenburg stallion (Stakkato Gold x Lord Weingard) gave no chance to the rest of the field, blazing through the course with obstacles up to the height of 1.60 meters while leaving all the poles up, overpowering them with their time of 66.79 seconds. Their great performance was also vital in the Valkenswaard United’s third-place finish in the Global Champions League (GCL) team competition.
Despite not winning the class, Christian Kukuk (GER) was most likely even happier than Ehning himself and he had several reasons to be so. Besides winning the Global Champions League (GCL) team competition and playing a huge role in the Riesenbeck International‘s victory maiden victory in their first-ever start in the series, the German also managed a second-place finish with Mumbai (Diamant de Semilly x Nabab de Reve) in the individual GCL class, doing so in 68.57 seconds.
Another rider who excels at the Qatari venue and recorded a win last week during the CHI Al Shaqab 5*, once again Simon Delestre (FRA) was back on the podium. This time the Frenchman conquered bronze honors on Dexter Fontenis Z (Diarado / Voltaire). Delestre dashed across the track in flawless fashion, completing his performance in just eight-tenths of a second slower than the Kukuk and Mumbai.
Final Results – €30,000 GCL Second Individual Competition CSI 5*
1) Marcus Ehning (GER) & Stargold – 0 – 66.79
2) Christian Kukuk (GER) & Mumbai – 0 – 68.57
3) Simon Delestre (FRA) & Dexter Fontenis Z – 0 – 68.65
Text: Jumper News, no reproduction without permission.
Photos: © LGCT / GCT / Stefano Grasso
Categories: CSI 5*, English, Jumper News Deutschland
