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Qabil dedicates Dressage Champions League victory to family
Saturday, August 2nd, 2008
There were showers of blessings at the 3Q Equestrian Centre today as Qabil Ambak destroyed the field to win the Merdeka Masters Class 25 Dressage event. It was a win which also ensured him the Dressage Champions League overall title. Under bright sunshine which followed a short rainstorm, Qabil showed the packed gallery at his home venue just why he is considered the best among the South East Asians with a controlled display on his favourite horse Dexter. The 28-year-old rider had only competed in rounds three, four and five but dominated the series to clinch first place, ahead of some internationally renowned riders. Qabil scored nine points to top the competition while Singapore's Franchesca Liauw shared second place with Malaysia's Diani Lee on five points each. Germany's Sandra Baljeu was third on two points, followed by Denmark's Marianne Rehn with one point in the overall standings. Qabil collected four points for today's win to go with the three he garnered in round four and two in round three. Today in the Merdeka Masters, he fought off the challenges of five other top notch riders which included those from the Philippines, Germany, Denmark, Singapore and Malaysia. Baljeu and her horse Donergirl were second while Diani astride Antschar, finished third. "Although I had been concentrating more on the FEI World Cup Showjumping South East Asian League, I'm glad to have finished the overall champion in the Dressage event," said the 28-year-old Qabil, whose sister Quzandria Nur has been coaching him. "My whole family, especially my parents have been very supportive of my career and winning the overall title is my way of thanking them. "My parents have sacrificed a lot to see their children succeed in equestrian and I'm eternally grateful to them. They have been by my side through the good times and bad. I hope to hold on to this title for as long as I can." Qabil, who will compete in tomorrow's FEI World Cup Showjumping South East Asian League, hopes today's victory will help him finish in the top two of that competition. A four-time winner of the FEI World Cup Showjumping South East Asian League, Qabil is now second with 21 points while elder brother Quzier Ambak has 19 points. Sweden's Helena Gabrielsson has an unassailable 35 points going into tomorrow's final leg.
Class 21 (Preliminary Dressage Test 1.4): 1. Ong Wan Ming (Timbertop, STCEC) 353 points (70.60%), 2. Natalya Wah Idris (My Wish, BKECR) 335 points (67.00%), 3. Deborah Bottreau (Supernova, BERJAYA) 330 points (66.00%),
Class 22 (Novice Dressage Test 2.4): 1. M. Aizat Abd Malik (Serious Fun, MSN/MEM ) 520 points (69.33%), 2. Amira Syahirah (Dicky, PET) 487 points (64.93%), 3. M. Aizat Abd Malik (Duke, MSN/MEM) 477 points (63.60%),
Class 23 (Elementary Dressage Test 3.4) : 1. Sharmini Ratnasingam (Eros Des Chapelles, AEDS) 687 points (65.43%)
Class 25 (Dressage Champions League Medium Dressage Test 4.4): 1. Qabil Ambak (Dexter, 3QE ) 751 points (65.88%), 2. Sandra Baljeu (Donergirl, 3QE) 739 points (64.82%)
There were showers of blessings at the 3Q Equestrian Centre today as Qabil Ambak destroyed the field to win the Merdeka Masters Class 25 Dressage event. It was a win which also ensured him the Dressage Champions League overall title.