Carl Hester & Fame won Grand Prix 5* in Doha

Each season, the Doha CDI 5* is one of the major competitions of the year: not so much for the spectators who come to appreciate the performances, 'cause all the seats are consistently and desperately empty, but rather because of the generous prize money and a promised "all-inclusive" experience. With €150,000 in prize money—€30,000 for the Grand Prix, €20,000 for the Special, and €100,000 for the Freestyle—the CDI 5*, World Cup and Nations Cup legs apart, is one of the few competitions where dressage riders can hope to win some money, still far from the astronomical sums offered in show jumping. Despite this, only one pair from the current world number 10 made the trip: Carl Hester and his horse Fame.

We almost forget it, but Carl Hester is no stranger to Doha: he presented Wanadoo there in 2017 and Nip Tuck in 2015. The British rider, rarely seen outside the UK, entered Fiona Bigwood's son of Bordeau in his first non-European international competition. Still a little high and short, the KWPN was today faulty in the two-tempies changes ; a return rewarded with a 75.848%.

Sandra Sysojeva & Maxima Bella are already starting their 23rd competition since they began this level two years ago. The energetic Oldenburg, as always, displayed her serious work, marked by the quality of her piaffe/passage. She nevertheless lost some points at the end of her first extended trot, where she became spooked. The Polish team finished second with 74.283%.

Finalists at the European Championships in Crozet, where they finished 12th, Nadja Aaboe Sloth and Favour Gersdorf could well find again this year their way to the Danish team for the World Championships in Aachen. Consistent without being spectacular, the 13-year-old DWB by Foundation was today faulty in the one time tempies and scored 72.565%.

Full results HERE