ABDULLAH AL SHARBATLY & ALAMO ADD TO THEIR WINS IN EL JADIDA - MOROCCO ROYAL TOUR 2025
Showjumping in an indoor arena is always a captivating spectacle, especially when the conditions are as ideal as they were in El Jadida. With the perfect arena dimensions ($70 \times 45$ m) and a course set by Belgium’s Louis Konickx, the competition masterfully blended fluidity with technical challenge. The result was a day of exhilarating sport that thrilled a young, enthusiastic, and remarkably attentive audience, from the early CSI1\* classes right through to the main event.
The climax came in the OCP Prize, won by Abdullah Al Sharbatly and his superstar partner Alamo.
Saudi Momentum Continues
The Morocco Royal Tour seems to consistently bring out the best in the Saudi riders. Following their back-to-back triumphs in both the Grand Prix and the Nations Cup last week in Rabat, the "green jackets" struck again in El Jadida.
This time, Abdullah Al Sharbatly added another victory to his impressive record, finishing ahead of teammate Ramzy Al Duhami with H-Secret by Boris.
“It’s an incredible feeling,” said Al Sharbatly, eager to express his gratitude. “First of all, I want to thank everyone here: especially His Majesty the King of Morocco, the Moroccan Federation, the organisers, and the sponsors who make this event possible. For us, Morocco truly feels like a second home. The people are warm, welcoming, and very friendly. The competition is world-class: the organisation, the officials, the communication, everything is perfect. I’m very proud to see such an event in an Arab country. It’s an honour for us, and I dedicate this victory to our King Salman bin Abdulaziz, to our Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to Prince Abdullah bin Fahd, President of our Federation, and to Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Faisal, our Minister of Sport.”
A Special Tribute to Alamo
The Saudi rider was especially keen to pay tribute to his outstanding horse: “Honestly, I’m happier for Alamo than for myself. That’s my baby! He’s 17 years old now, nearly 18, but he acts like he’s five! I bought him four years ago from my friend Sergio Moya, and since then he’s become a true star. You can see how fit he is: he moves incredibly well. God bless him, and I hope he keeps going for a long time. When he retires, he’ll live with me in Saudi Arabia.”
Looking ahead to Sunday's Grand Prix 4* de Sa Majesté le Roi, Al Sharbatly explained his strategic plan: “Originally, I was going to ride Alamo in the Grand Prix, but after my rounds yesterday, I changed my mind. I’ll ride Lord Pezi Jr. in the Grand Prix and save Alamo for the $1.50$ m class. Hopefully, it’s the right decision.” We’ll find out tomorrow, starting at $1:30$ p.m.!
Ouaddar's Victory Electrifies the Home Crowd
Earlier in the day, Abdelkebir Ouaddar and Festival d’Argougessent a wave of joy through the blue hall of El Jadida by claiming a stunning victory in the CDG Prize.
“Kébir” took every risk and inside option, producing a smooth yet lightning-fast round that narrowly beat France’s Cyril Bouvard and Gangster d’Eifel by just $62$ hundredths of a second. The round brought the crowd to its feet—and soon, the Cherifian Anthem rang out powerfully through the hall. A win by Morocco’s national hero Abdelkebir Ouaddar is always a very special moment at the MRT.
Other Highlights: Moroccan and French Successes
Moroccan Riders Dominate the CSI1*
The day had begun with a clean sweep for the Moroccan riders, who took the first six places ahead of Dutch rider Mans Thijssen. Saad Jabri set the standard with Alouette du Breuil, establishing a lead of $1.66$ seconds over his nearest rival, Nal Zeroual. Jabri is no stranger to the top of the podium, having also claimed a similar CSI2* victory last year during the Longines Global Champions Tour of Rabat.
A French Marseillaise
The French riders are also clearly enjoying this 2025 edition of the Morocco Royal Tour, which has yet to see a day pass without at least one Marseillaise echoing through the venue. On Saturday, it was Florent Jeannin and Ella du Lys who earned that honour. They navigated a course that looked big and technical on the course walk—a perception confirmed by the results, with only five clear rounds out of twenty-two starters.
--ENDS--