Dubai, UAE, January 6, 2012 - The Gulf News Dubai Cup headlined the second day of the Dubai Showjumping Championship 2012 CSI*** - W Dubai (Arab League) and the event became Abdullah Al Sharbatly’s second win in as many days as the Saudi Arabian rider will head 25 finalists in Saturday’s Dubai Equestrian Club Grand Prix FEI World Cup.

The Gulf News Dubai Cup, with prizemoney of AED120,000, serves as the qualifier for closing day’s prestigious AED 170,000 Dubai Equestrian Club Grand Prix FEI World Cup. The top 25 Arab League riders, from the 64 that competed, will vie for the championship scheduled for 3:00pm on Saturday.

A silver medal winner at the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games Showjumping in Lexington, Kentucky, USA, the 29-year-old, Al Sharbatly won opening day’s Emirates Airline Two Phases.

His victory in the Gulf News Dubai Cup was the slimmest of margins as he guided Larkhill Cruiser to a time of 70.82, with no faults. Germany’s Joerg Naeve was close behind for second with 70.98 aboard Coolidge, no faults. Naeve had finished third to Al Sharbatly in the opening day competition and now have his third try for victory in the finals.

Third place was collected by the UAE’s Mohammed Al Owais aboard Saydoon Van De Haaipandar in a time of 76.19.

The schedule for Saturday’s three classes will be the Longines Accumulator AED 80,000, 12:00pm; Dubai Equestrian Club Grand Prix FEI World Cup AED 170,000, 3pm; and the Emirates Airline Trophy AED 20,000, 6:15pm.

Gates Open at 11am and entrance is free with entertainment for the entire family including pony rides, inflatable-bouncy rides, children’s play area, face painting and displays and drill rides by the Dubai Pony Club. Food and beverages will also be available for purchase.
For further information: www:emiratesequestriancentre.com

Organized by the Dubai Equestrian Club, part of the Meydan Group, the event, held at the Dubai International Endurance City, is partnered by gold sponsors Emirates Airline, the official airline; Longines, the official timekeeper; and Gulf News, the event’s official English newspaper; and silver sponsor, Al Mubdee Scaffolding LLC (AMS).