At just 29, Abdulrahman Alrajhi hasn’t spent much time competing stateside during his 13-year-long show jumping career.
He may need to start re-thinking that plan.
On Sunday, September 29, Alrajhi took home the biggest win of his career in the $200,000 CSI5* Major League Show Jumping (MLSJ) Grand Prix in Greenwich, Connecticut aboard his Paris Olympic partner, Ventago, on a time of 35.42 seconds.
What’s more, the rider from Saudi Arabia did so in style, besting two of the best American riders in the series: Lillie Keenan and Kick On in second place (35.88 seconds), and Kent Farrington and Myla in third (36.27 seconds). Exactly midway through the season, Keenan currently sits second in the MLSJ individual standings on 38 points; Farrington leads the tour on 43 points.
“It means a lot that I was able to beat these amazing riders next to me,” Alrajhi said. “It’s a new experience for me to be here in the States, and I think we had a very great show and very great competition as well.”
Ten riders jumped clear on the Alan Wade’s 1.60m first-round track. Alrajhi returned last to the jump-off, giving him the advantage of watching the other competitors ahead of him test their plans.
“I think the most difficult part today with my horse—he is an unbelievable horse—but I think he is one of the slowest horses in the class,” Alrajhi said of the 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation. The two have been paired together for one and a half years.
“He is tiny but slow, but he has an advantage in that he has a very huge stride. And obviously, he’s ultra careful and has all the scope,” continued Alrajhi.
Knowing his gelding lacked foot speed, Alrajhi admitted he took advantage of every other tool at his disposal in the second round. “I did not risk it in areas that I know that it would be a bit risky, but I think [it did work to my] advantage to have the short turns, and obviously, the second round, I had the chance to see everyone before me.”
Alrajhi has been on a hot-streak this season beginning with his solid, 13th-place individual finish during his Olympic debut in Paris with Ventago. Earlier this month, he also earned a 3rd place on the podium at CSI5* MLSJ Traverse City in th e1.50m Winning Round class. On Saturday, September 28 in Greenwich, Alrajhi notched yet another MLSJ title in the Individual Speed with Iniesta V.
His numbers are on the rise as well: in nine starts at 1.60m aboard Ventago, Alrajhi finishes in the top 10 at 56% according to Jumpr.
“He’s slow, so to be competitive with him, we need a lot of heart,” Alrajhi added of the bay gelding. “Don’t get me wrong [though], he’s one of the best horses in the world.”