Her Highness Attends the Opening Tour Competitions of the H.H. The Father Amir Prix
Mdmar – Doha – Qatar, 2 January 2026 –
Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF),attended the opening day at Al Shaqab as Tour 1 of the H.H. The Father Amir Prix 2026 officially commenced in Doha.
Tour 1 (2–4 January) features CSI1*, CSI2* and CSI4* categories and offers €538,000 in prize money, opening to a full house at Al Shaqab on its inaugural day.
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Tour 1 brings together international and regional riders across CSI1, CSI2 and CSI4* categories, with a total prize fund of €538,000. Across the full H.H. The Father Amir Prix four-tour series, prize money totals €3,303,000, with Tours 1 and 2 welcoming 248 riders competing with 524 horses.
The event is organized by the Qatar Equestrian Federation, Al Shaqab, and the Qatar Olympic Committee, in partnership with Qatar Airways as Official Airline Partner, United Development Company (UDC) as Complementary Partner, Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Group as Transport Partner, Al Kass Sports Channels as Broadcast Partner, and Education Above All as the official advocacy partner.
The opening day programme featured competitions across the Indoor Arena and Outdoor Arena, with classes spanning multiple categories, reflecting the Tour’s role in supporting both international-level performance and the continued development of regional talent within the FEI competition structure.
Day 1 – Competition Highlights
Day 1 delivered a strong start to the Tour, with riders competing in CSI1*, CSI2* and CSI4* classes throughout the day. The schedule included CSI4* competitions at 140 cm and 145 cm, alongside CSI2* classes at 140 cm and CSI1* classes at 120 cm, with performances marked by technical consistency and competitive pacing across both arenas.
Key results – Day 1 (official):
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- CSI4* 1.45m (Faults & Time) – Winner: Abdullah Alsharbatly (KSA) – Boeckmanns Lord Pezi Junior | 0 faults | 57.93
- CSI4* 1.40m (Two Phases) – Winner: Janne F. Meyer-Zimmermann (GER) – My Lady Lavista | 0 penalties | 46.49 (Phase 1) / 27.41 (Phase 2)
- CSI2* 1.40m (Two Phases) – Competition 5 (Longines Outdoor Arena) – Winner: Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA) – Diarouge Blue PS | 0 faults | 49.66 (Phase 1) / 30.19 (Phase 2)
- CSI2* 1.25m (Faults & Time) – Competition 3 (2nd Outdoor Arena) – Joint winners: Ibrahim Hani Bisharat (JOR) – El Nino Bull’s Eye Z and Yassin Khalifa (EGY) – Camelija | 0 faults | 60.70
- CSI2* 1.30m (Special Two-Phase) – Competition 4 (2nd Outdoor Arena) – Winner: Abdullah Alsharbatly (KSA) – Dr Scarpo | 0 penalties | 32.60 (Phase 1) / 38.02 (Phase 2)
- CSI1* 1.10m (Special Two-Phase) – Competition 1 (Longines Indoor Arena) – Winner: Hasan Alhadi (KSA) – DSP Cessy | 0 penalties | 36.15 (Phase 1) / 26.45 (Phase 2)
- CSI1* 1.20m (Faults & Time) – Competition 2 (Longines Indoor Arena) – Winner: Youssef Nassar (EGY) – Orestes van het Tolhuis | 0 faults | 54.69
Janne F. Meyer-Zimmermann, rider: Strong opening-day performance.
“It
was a good day for us. My Lady Lavista jumped very well, and we’re delighted to
open Tour 1 with a win.”
Emanuele
Gaudiano, rider: Strong opening-day performance and good feeling with the
horse.
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“Today was a positive start for us. Diarouge Blue PS felt focused and responsive, and we were able to deliver a clear round and keep a good rhythm in the second phase. We’ll take this result and stay concentrated as the competition continues”.
Abdullah Alsharbatly, rider: Positive opening-day performance.
“I’m pleased with how Boeckmanns Lord Pezi Junior performed today. It was a smooth round and a positive start to the competition. We’ll take it step by step and keep our focus for the rest of the tour”.
Official Opening Ceremony
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An Official Opening Ceremony took place today at 5:30 PM, marking the formal start of Tour 1 and welcoming riders, teams, officials, partners and spectators to Al Shaqab for the opening weekend. The programme featured artistic performances under the theme “Where Nations Gather”, a drone and light show, and equestrian-themed activities across the venue.
Throughout the event period, the fan zone around the Longines Arena at Al Shaqab will offer entertainment facilities, cafés and retail outlets, alongside outdoor activations delivered by local service providers, entrepreneurs and artists, reflecting Qatari hospitality and cultural heritage. Tickets are available via Road to Qatar, with general admission priced at QAR 50 per day, with free access for children under 12. Hospitality options include VIP Tent Hospitality and Premium Hospitality Packages with premium seating, dedicated parking and catering services.
What’s Next – Day 2 Preview (3 January)
Competition continues tomorrow with a full programme across both arenas, including further CSI1*, CSI2* and CSI4* classes scheduled throughout the day.
About H.H. The Father Amir Prix
The H.H. The Father Amir Prix is delivered as a four-tour series. Tours 2, 3 and 4 will include FEI Group VII qualifiers, supporting regional riders in their pathway to higher-level international competition.
*“mdmar” website for horse racing and equestrian News
The “Mdmar” website which was Founded by Khaled Makhlouf in 2007 for horse and equestrian races is keen to cover and follow all competitions related to horses, from show jumping, Horseracing, speed and endurance races, and purebred Arabian horse beauty shows, which belong to the Arab Gulf countries at home and abroad in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
