As the last starter, the notorious speed rider Simon Delestre with Dexter Fontenis Z (by Diarado) still tried to snatch the victory in the jump-off for the 410,000 Euro Grand Prix at the Al Shaqab Arena in Doha. But in front of him, Marcus Ehning with Stargold (by Stakkato Gold) had taken the turns even tighter and especially tightened up the final sprint to the final line in such a way that in the end he managed something that no one before him had ever achieved: He defended the title after 41.74 seconds and stood at the top of the podium for the second time in a row. The second-placed Frenchman needed 42.03 seconds. When the German national anthem sounded, the man from Borken had to fight tears.
It was the happy end of a true marathon: The best 18 riders of this evening had already completed two complete rounds over 1.60 m high obstacles, when the seven double-zero riders also had to go into the jump-off to decide the winner among themselves. Three of them came from Germany. Christian Kukuk was the first to enter the final on Nice van't Zorgvliet (by Emerald), but in the hunt for the best time he rode so close to one obstacle that he was unable to find a suitable distance to jump off to the next - his partner stopped. He had to start again - in the end this meant six faults and seventh place. His stable partner from Riesenbeck, Philipp Weishaupt, came out of the jump-off with Coby (by Contagio) with a drop and finished fourth.
Almost all the German riders had entered the second round of the Grand Prix. Gerrit Nieberg and his Ben (by Sylvain) were the first German pair to enter the round-robin course. And they started with bad luck. The very first pole went down as a net roller. The pair only had one down and they were also very fast. That was how they got into the second round. But somehow they didn't find the right rhythm: Gerrit Nieberg turned off early to spare his horse after four poles fell, but in the overall standings they were still in the money in 17th place.
Ludger Beerbaum and Mila (by Monte Bellini), last year's LGCT winner in Doha, were the first to jump clear in round one of the 1.60m course. In round two they took two poles. Hans-Dieter Dreher and his grey horse Elysium also had a clear round in the first round. In the second round, however, he also lost two poles, which meant that Hansi and his Holsteiner were placed 16th overall.
Of the Germans, only Christian Ahlmann, who had won the GP in Doha two years ago, and Mandato vd Neerheide (by Emerald) missed the second round after a drop in round one and a not quite competitive time.
