Rabat, Morocco – September 29, 2024 – After the Saudis’ flawless sweep of all the weekend’s “top” 4* events, we had our bets on this result…and the green jackets didn’t disappoint the prognosticators. Gathering the lead after the first round, they clinched the coveted Nations’ Cup in Morocco for the first time, with two double clear rounds from Abdullhah Al-Sharbatly (KSA) and Ramzy Al Duhami (KSA) and three foot-perfect efforts in the second round, leaving Italy 5 points behind and overtaking Belgium, who finished third this year.
It was a traditional Nations’ Cup course, where the difficulty of the obstacles and sequences was equivocal, building suspense until the end. From the first round, two teams emerged with a clean score, Belgium and Switzerland (a habit in Rabat), one with a point (Italy), and three others with four points: Saudi Arabia, France, and an almost perfect performance from Morocco, but twice betrayed by the last obstacle for Vincent Zacharias Bourguignon (MAR) and El Ghali Boukaa.
For these six teams, anything was possible at this stage. Ireland was already out of the game, and as the second round progressed, France lost their grasp on the trophy, then Morocco soon after (despite a sublime double clear from Ali Al Arach (KSA) and Ike 1348: “It was exactly my objective here, I had focused everything on this class”).
This gave Belgium an opening in the third round but they too lost hope with a third 4-fault effort from Marine Scauflaire, then Switzerland, before Dominik Fuhrer cracked with a 16-pointer, Italy (but handicapped with Gaudiano’s point in the first round, and finally…Saudi Arabia. They swept the board with a third clear in this second round from Abduhlah Al-Sharbatly (KSA) and the mighty Ermindo W.
Author of one of the afternoon’s five double clear rounds, Ramzy Al Duhami (KSA) seemed even happier than after his Grand Prix victory on Friday. It seemed as if winning with the team was all the more rewarding. “Four united riders, top horses, and a great “chef d’équipe”. In short, we had everything we needed to be motivated here,” said Al Duhami.
Coach David Will (GER) emphasized this team spirit: “It’s a real group effort. This team performed well throughout the weekend, and that welded the riders together. I haven’t changed much about their riding, as they’re experienced riders who’ve already had a lot of prior success. I’m here above all to work on the details and objectives, bearing in mind that the most ambitious goal right now is the World Championships in Aachen in 2026”. A meeting where this team is a force to be reckoned with!
This fourth Saudi victory marked the end of the second leg of the Morocco Royal Tour. On Monday, horses and riders will take to the road in El Jadida for the indoor conclusion of this 2024 circuit.
Final Results – Ministry of National Education, Pre-school & Sports Prize CSIO 4*-W
1) Saudi Arabia – 4 / 0 = 4 / 216.68
2) Italy – 1 / 8 = 9 / 212.01
3) Belgium – 0 / 12 = 12 / 212.56
Source: Press Release by Pascal Renauldon / Agence R&B Presse for Morocco Royal Tour
Photos: © Morocco Royal Tour / Morgan Froment for R&B Presse
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Categories: CSIO 4*, English, Jumper News Middle East
