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Edwina Tops-Alexander on the podium in Doha

Australian Edwina Tops-Alexander placed second with Uppercourt Cappucino in the CSI2* Grand Prix during the first round of the three-leg Doha International Equestrian Tour 2025 in Qatar.

Edwina Tops-Alexander was successful at the first event of the Doha International Equestrian Tour 2025. Image by Doha International Equestrian Tour 2025.

Equestrian Life

Published 13 Jan 2025

The first round of the three-leg Doha International Equestrian Tour 2025 (9-12 January) concluded at the glorious Longines Outdoor and Indoor Arenas of Al Shaqab in Qatar on Saturday with 6 different rounds of one-star, two-star and four-star categories, in addition to a Future Riders’ class.

The first round witnessed the participation of more than 330 local and international riders, with the event carrying a total prize-money of more than €690,000.

Edwina second in CSI2* Grand Prix

The CSI2* Grand Prix 1.45m (Jump Off, LR, Art. 238.2.2) class on Saturday had fierce competition with 13 riders qualifying for the jump off. Five-time Olympian Edwina Tops-Alexander of Australia finished on the podium in second place, producing a double clear and clocking 37.30 secs in the jump-off with bay gelding Uppercourt Cappucino.

“What a way to kick off the Doha International Equestrian Tour! Cappucino takes second place on the podium in the CSI2* 1.45m Grand Prix!” said Edwina via social media.

“It’s been an incredible weekend for Cappucino – I’m so pleased with how he’s going. After a fantastic season last year, he’s starting this one on a positive note! A big thank you to my amazing team at Stal Tops and my sponsors for making this possible.”

Uppercourt Cappucino is a 12-year-old Irish Sport horse gelding by Pacino out of Uppercourt Posh (Obos Quality), previously owned by HK Horses and purchased by Tops Horse Trading in 2022. The gelding debuted at FEI level with Ireland’s Richhard Howley in young horse classes and was later ridden by Greece’s Athina Onassis and Italy’s Alberto Zorzi. More recently, New Zealand rider Annabel Francis partnered Cappucino in the competition arena, before Edwina took over the reins mid-2024.

The CSI2* 1.45m Grand Prix was won by Italian Emanuele Gaudiano riding the grey stallion Quirinus 27 with a time of 35.10 secs.

It was a faultless performance for Edwina and Cappucino in Doha, as earlier on the Thursday they were clear and placed fifth in the CSI2* Faults & Time 1.45m (LR, GP Qualifier, Art. 238.2.1).

Edwina Tops-Alexander and Uppercourt Cappucino placed second in the CSI2* Grand Prix at leg one of the Doha International Equestrian Tour 2025. Image by Doha International Equestrian Tour 2025.

CSI4*-W World Cup & Grand Prix

Riding her Paris Olympic horse Fellow Castlefield, Edwina jumped a double clear in the CSI4*-W Two Phases 1.40m (Art. 274.1.5.3) on Thursday and then on Friday the pair placed 26th in the CSI4*-W FEI World Cup 1.55m (Two Rounds, Art. 273.4.3b-W).

Stallion Corelli de Mies was clear on Thursday for Edwina in the CSI4*-W Faults & Time 1.45m (LR, Art. 238.2.1), with the pair then claiming a top-ten finish on Saturday in the CSI4*-W Grand Prix 1.55m (Jump Off, LR, Art. 238.2.2) where they produced a double clear.

The CSI4*-W World Cup went to Germany’s Philipp Weishaupt riding Coby 8, while the CSI4*-W Grand Prix went to Austria’s Gerfried Puck and Equitron Naxcel V.

Doha International Equestrian Tour 2025

The Doha International Equestrian Tour 2025 comprises 3 international rounds, where the first and second rounds are allocated to the two-star and four-star categories, while the third and final round include the five-star and two-star categories. This year’s edition of the championship is organized by the Qatar Equestrian Federation, Al Shaqab, and the Qatar Olympic Committee, and is officially sponsored by Doha Bank, Al Abdulghani Motors, and Zabarjad Jewellery. It also has a partnership with Qatar Airways as the official airline partner, Visit Qatar as the official partner, Al Kass Sports Channels as broadcast partner, So Cast as the social media partner, and Sahil as the media partner.

Full results from Doha Tour 2025 – Week 1 can be found here.