Moroccan Show Jumping on Fire!
Press release, Rabat October 14, 2022
Happy Morocco! Five days after Abdelkebir Ouaddar's fantastic victory in Tetouan, a second red and green triumph, this time to the credit of El Ghali Boukaa and his combative mare A Kyss in a completely different scenario because, this time, the Moroccan rider passed at the very beginning of the jump-off, in second position. He therefore had to wait to see his opponents pass by, not without some anxiety. It is also worth noting the very good collective performance of Portugal which placed two of its riders on the podium.
And this Moroccan success is brilliantly completed by the surprise fourth place of Majid Djaidi (Mister d'Eclipse) in a Grand Prix SAR LA PRINCESSE LALLA AMINA where all the big favorites fell in the first round: 4 faults for the Frenchman Simon Delestre, the Belgian vice world champion Jérôme Guéry, the Canadian Beth Underhill, the last winner of this Grand Prix (in 2019), the Brazilian Bernardo Alves, without forgetting the withdrawal of the Tetouan winner, Abdelkebir Ouaddar.
After a first victory on the MRT, in Tetouan in 2018, El Ghali Boukaa has just written a new chapter in the history of this fabulous Moroccan circuit. "I have been riding this mare for just one year and she has been just amazing. I am very happy, very moved, it is an indescribable feeling”. Before this victory was decided, El Ghali Boukaa had to wait and observe the passage of eight of his opponents. An interminable moment: "We stress at each of the eight courses, we wait, we wait hoping to win and at the end, it is an explosion of emotions".
Today, if this Grand Prix was particularly successful, it was thanks to the architect, the French course designer Gregory Bodo, who was able to bring the expected number of ten riders in this second round, which thus turned into a long jump-off: "His courses were magnificent, we had the best course designer today," paid tribute to the winner. “Personally, I love to ride his courses and today he delighted us with his layouts, it was magnificent".
And this Moroccan success is brilliantly completed by the surprise fourth place of Majid Djaidi (Mister d'Eclipse) in a Grand Prix SAR LA PRINCESSE LALLA AMINA where all the big favorites fell in the first round: 4 faults for the Frenchman Simon Delestre, the Belgian vice world champion Jérôme Guéry, the Canadian Beth Underhill, the last winner of this Grand Prix (in 2019), the Brazilian Bernardo Alves, without forgetting the withdrawal of the Tetouan winner, Abdelkebir Ouaddar.
After a first victory on the MRT, in Tetouan in 2018, El Ghali Boukaa has just written a new chapter in the history of this fabulous Moroccan circuit. "I have been riding this mare for just one year and she has been just amazing. I am very happy, very moved, it is an indescribable feeling”. Before this victory was decided, El Ghali Boukaa had to wait and observe the passage of eight of his opponents. An interminable moment: "We stress at each of the eight courses, we wait, we wait hoping to win and at the end, it is an explosion of emotions".
Today, if this Grand Prix was particularly successful, it was thanks to the architect, the French course designer Gregory Bodo, who was able to bring the expected number of ten riders in this second round, which thus turned into a long jump-off: "His courses were magnificent, we had the best course designer today," paid tribute to the winner. “Personally, I love to ride his courses and today he delighted us with his layouts, it was magnificent".
The story of El Ghali Boukaa and A Kyss is that of a couple who got along quickly: "My owner entrusted her to me just a year ago because his daughter was leaving to study. At the time, she was only jumping 1.25m courses. Then her other daughter took her back for a while to do slightly bigger courses, then she left too and this time I got her back enduringly and it's a huge chance. Today, she won a Grand Prix at 1.50-55m , she still has a step to take to reach the top level. I'm going to go this winter to Simon Delestre's where I love to train, and we'll see if she's capable of taking this step”.
In any case, what a great series for Moroccan show jumping at home. Abdelkebir Ouaddar in Tetouan, El Ghali Boukaa in Rabat... who's next in El Jadida? Meanwhile, Morocco has another challenge ahead of it. Collectively this time with the Nations Cup on Sunday where it will face some of the best teams in the world. A new nice surprise to hope for?
In any case, what a great series for Moroccan show jumping at home. Abdelkebir Ouaddar in Tetouan, El Ghali Boukaa in Rabat... who's next in El Jadida? Meanwhile, Morocco has another challenge ahead of it. Collectively this time with the Nations Cup on Sunday where it will face some of the best teams in the world. A new nice surprise to hope for?
Grand Prix SAR LA PRINCESSE LALLA AMINA
1) El Ghali Boukaa, MAR – A Kyss (0)-(0)/43.08-0, 2) Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida, POR – Imposing van de Renger (0)-(0)/44.11-0, 3) António Matos Almeida, POR – Calypso de Kamelia (0)-(0)/44.21-0, 4) Majid Djaidi, MAR – Mister d'Eclipse (0)-(0)/44.65-0, 5) Barbara Schnieper, SUI – Escoffier (0)-(4)/42.41-4, 6) Francisco José Mesquita Musa, BRA – Catch Me Marathon (0 )-(4)/43.06-4, 7) Mel Thijssen, NED – Cartolana 2 (0)-(4)/43.49-4, 8) David Will, GER – Zaccorado Blue (0)-(8)/41.76- 8, 9) Christoph Obernauer, AUT – Kleons Renegade (0)-(8)/43.77-8, 10) Jeanne Sadran, FRA – Unforgettable Damvil (0)-(8)/45.10-8
1) El Ghali Boukaa, MAR – A Kyss (0)-(0)/43.08-0, 2) Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida, POR – Imposing van de Renger (0)-(0)/44.11-0, 3) António Matos Almeida, POR – Calypso de Kamelia (0)-(0)/44.21-0, 4) Majid Djaidi, MAR – Mister d'Eclipse (0)-(0)/44.65-0, 5) Barbara Schnieper, SUI – Escoffier (0)-(4)/42.41-4, 6) Francisco José Mesquita Musa, BRA – Catch Me Marathon (0 )-(4)/43.06-4, 7) Mel Thijssen, NED – Cartolana 2 (0)-(4)/43.49-4, 8) David Will, GER – Zaccorado Blue (0)-(8)/41.76- 8, 9) Christoph Obernauer, AUT – Kleons Renegade (0)-(8)/43.77-8, 10) Jeanne Sadran, FRA – Unforgettable Damvil (0)-(8)/45.10-8