Former British crew horse Equine America Spacecake has helped Saudi Arabia qualify for the Paris Olympics.
The 11-year-old mare was previously competed by Ellen Whitaker, till she was bought to the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation on the finish of 2022. On the time Ellen mentioned “the provides had been getting greater and larger till it simply turned unattainable to show down”.
With Ellen, Equine America Spacecake represented Nice Britain on the Nations Cup ultimate in Barcelona final 12 months and so they had been fourth within the Longines International Champions Tour grand prix of London. They had been additionally shortlisted for the World Showjumping Championships in Herning.
Saudi’s Khaled Almobty took over the reins in January, and the pair are already displaying a promising relationship. They had been a part of the Saudi Arabian crew on the CSIO5* Nations Cup leg in January, and final week helped the nation safe Olympic qualification on the Doha Nations Cup in Qatar.
Two Paris tickets had been up for grabs within the five-way battle that includes Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Morocco, Egypt and Qatar. On the midway stage of the competitors the UAE led on eight faults, with Saudi Arabia on 9, and Qatar on 10.
Within the second spherical Saudi’s Abdulrahman Alrajhi and Babalou HD had 9 faults, and Ramzy Al Duhami and Untouchable had six. But it surely was clear rounds from Khaled and Equine America Spacecake, and Abdullah Alsharbatly and Steve Guerdat’s former World Cup winner Alamo, that sealed Olympic qualification. The UAE took the opposite qualifying spot – the primary time the nation has certified for equestrian sport on the Olympics.
Khaled is the youngest rider on the Saudi crew, aged 24.
“At this time is a day to recollect for the remainder of our lives,” he mentioned.
“To qualify for an important present on this planet, an important Video games on this planet, I’m very completely satisfied and happy with my teammates for all of the arduous work they put in. Hopefully we are able to proceed success within the Olympics”, he mentioned.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE be a part of the record of nations certified for the showjumping at Paris 2024. As hosts, France robotically certified. Nice Britain, Germany, Eire, the Netherlands and Sweden received their spot eventually summer time’s World Championships. Belgium certified on the Nations Cup Ultimate in October.
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