Morocco Royal Tour: Khaled Almobty and Davenport, the Winning Round Specialists

Photo ©MRT/Thomas Reiner
Photo ©MRT/Thomas Reiner

A week after their clean sweep in Rabat, Saudi Arabia returned to their winning ways in El Jadida, with Khaled Almobty and Davenport taking exactly the same event as last week, a winning-round.

The rather tricky first round saw a quartet of the fastest four-faulters join the list of 12 finalists for the second round, including four female riders. The advantage in this class is that those who made errors in the first round have a chance at redemption, for the scorecard is wiped clean ahead of the second decisive round. So, it was a new course of seven obstacles, including a double, which naturally takes on the competitive character of a jump-off—a galloping jump-off, as we like them, with a long final run between the last two oxers. With an already enthusiastic public, it was all the more incentive to lay down the gauntlet. Like that, sport becomes a show!

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Morocco Royal Tour: Who other than Gaudiano?

Photo ©MRT/Thomas Reiner
Photo ©MRT/Thomas Reiner

For European riders, the third leg of the Morocco Royal Tour in El Jadida marks a smooth transition from the summer season to indoor competition under the best possible circumstances. For example, on a track worthy of the finest arenas on the World Cup circuit. The first day of this return to indoors featured two “appetizing” events, while the serious business begins tomorrow with the qualifying round for the 4* Grand Prix.

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Morocco Royal Tour: Grand Finale in Rabat for Saudi Arabia!

Photo © R&B Presse / Morgan Froment
Photo © R&B Presse / Morgan Froment

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 Alsharbatly and Ramzy Al Duhami and three foot-perfect efforts in the second round, leaving Italy 5 points behind and overtaking Belgium, who finished third this year.

Read MoreMorocco Royal Tour: Grand Finale in Rabat for Saudi Arabia!

Khaled Almobty and Davenport VDL soared through the Moroccan night.

Photo © R&B Presse / Morgan Froment
Photo © R&B Presse / Morgan Froment

After the victory of Spain's Carolina Aresu Garcia Obregon in the Accumulator with Telhueche (“a horse with a huge heart,” said Carolina), the 4* riders met again at night for the main event of the day, the Prix Maroc Telecom, a 1.50 m “winning-tour” in which 31 riders took part... And in the end, it was a Saudi who reigned victorious.

Read MoreKhaled Almobty and Davenport VDL soared through the Moroccan night.

Emanuele Gaudiano Has a Formula for Success in the Morocco Royal Tour

Photo © R&B Presse / Morgan Froment
Photo © R&B Presse / Morgan Froment

As the sun dipped below the mountains in Tetouan, the action was just beginning for CSI4*-W 1.50m PRIX DE DAKHLA riders. Namely, Emanuele Guadiano (ITA), for there is no Moroccan Royal Tour (MRT) title this ambitious Italian won’t fight for. Despite landing in the unfavorable position of first-to-go, Guadiano naturally laid it all out on the table with 11-year-old stallion Nikolaj de Music, crossing the timers in a blistering 37.71 seconds.

Read MoreEmanuele Gaudiano Has a Formula for Success in the Morocco Royal Tour

Simon Delestre and Olga Van De Kruishoeve Take the French Baton in Tetouan

Photo © R&B Presse / Morgan Froment
Photo © R&B Presse / Morgan Froment

This morning it was a top-9 Moroccan wave in the CSI1*  PRIX DE ZOUADA 1.25m that delighted the home audience. Zakaria Zoundi led the contingent with a proud salute aboard 15-year-old gelding Vincenzo du Ter, the singular rider in the strong 35 combination class to break the 60-second barrier, clocking in at 59.82 seconds. Hot on his heels was the young Rayane El Ouarzazi with his ‘heart horse,’ 17-year-old mare Carousa 2. The pair have been partnered for just shy of a decade, and he’s determined this will be their final year showing together. So naturally, he cherishes each top result.

Read MoreSimon Delestre and Olga Van De Kruishoeve Take the French Baton in Tetouan

Tetouan Under a Gold Sky de Pegase

Off to a flying start, the 2024 edition of the Morocco Royal Tour (MRT) has officially begun at the emblematic Garde Royale de Tetouan, an equestrian jewel in the heart of this spectacular coastal city. The vet inspection confirmed a talented start list of 95 riders in the CSI1* and an impressive 128 riders in the CSI4*-W. With more than a dozen flags represented, we are assured a thrilling week of top-level competition is ahead.

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FEI Driving World Cup Presented by Laiterie de Montaigu: Exell Still at the Top of the Table

Photo by © International Horse Press / ctanierephotographie.com
Photo by © International Horse Press / ctanierephotographie.com

It was a strategic masterclass from reigning champion Boyd Exell (AUS) as the FEI Driving World Cup™ 2023-24 Series got underway in Lyon (FRA).  Throughout the competition, Boyd had such prowess in the large arena at Equita Lyon that even when a ball rolled in his final drive-off, he could stick to his gameplan and still win.

Read MoreFEI Driving World Cup Presented by Laiterie de Montaigu: Exell Still at the Top of the Table