After the second day of jumping at the FEI World Cup Final in Milan the lead has changed dramatically after a tough days jumping. Uliano Vezzani, Italian Course Designer for this Final, set a course which required educated and well controlled horses,as he set some tricky tasks by way of difficult distances and big fences and in Round Two the "bogey" fence was the penutlimate fence, a double at 12.
The starters
field had dropped from the original 42 down to 37 after Day one saw Elliot
Stone for Canada, McLain Ward for USA and Mabak Qabil eliminated for falls.
America's
Norman dello Joio did not start on day one due to his horse stepping on a
nail before the first competition and Rodrigo Pessoa for Brazil withdrew after
concerns were raised over Baloubet du Rouet condition.
The class ran in seeded order with the leader, Markus Fuchs jumping last and the course saw many changes in the order. Again the American's did not have a great "day at the office" with Laura Linback and Remember Me 9 retiring as did William Simpson and El Campeon's Ado Annie.
Frenchman Yann Candele riding Mill Creek Sweet Dream is based with Canadian Eric Lamaze who would have been pleased with his students result today when he recorded the first clear round over this very difficult course when he rode sixth into the ring which was a superb effort for this gentleman who came into this class in 32nd position.
Carrying the flag for America, Laura Kraut was 11th into the ring and after having issues with the double of water trays on the first day was determined not to have the same issues today and recorded clear round number two. Vezzani had seperated the water trays today and they lay under fences 6 and 8 which were both verticals.
Rolf-Goran Bengtsson made sure Sweden would be in the final competition on Sunday when he and MacKinley also produced a clear round. Germany's entry to the jump off today was begun by Marco Kutscher and the very big and handsome Contender/Burgraff offspring Montender who gave a very stylish clear round performance.
Belgium's Ludo Philippaerts and the stunning grey son of Darco, Parco also produced a beautiful clear round showing just why this combination are national heroes at home in Belgium.
Bruno Broucqsault and Dileme de Cephe clocked up a clear round for France but they were lucky to do so when the Frenchman and his gelding nearly went their seperate ways after the Selle Francais gelding jumped his rider out of the saddle as they worked over the oxer which sat between the two water tray fences on a related distance, straight line - but nonetheless it was a clear round with no recorded faults and time was right!
Clear rounds were few and far between and third last into the ring, Germany's Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum aboard Shutterfly, the Hannovarian bred horse by Silvio 1 clocked up the seventh and final clear round for the class.
Markus Ehning's dream of a double World Cup win was shattered today when Anka took the middle part of the treble combination at fence five and then clipped part B of fence 12 - this was set at an awkward place with horses moving away from the in gate in their approach to this combination and many horses tried to duck out here causing grief for some and a definite loss of time, as Toni Hassman discovered finishing with 11 faults which saw a collection of time penalties there.
Markus Fuchs and Tinka's Boy were not to repeat their win from the previous day when they had one down and joined the 13 riders sitting on equal eighth position in the class, all being four faulters.
No doubt Markus Fuchs would have been disappointed at losing pole position but, after many years of top-level competitive riding, he understands the sport of show jumping and how quickly you can go from "hero to zero" at the mercy of a breath on a rail but he is always the gentleman and at the Press Conference after the event he said, "I felt fantastic until I got to the last fence – Tinka’s Boy was giving me a beautiful feeling but maybe I was too confident – I planned six strides between the last two fences and if I had to do it again I would do the same thing only I would ride it better!" Being just four points behind the joint-leaders, Fuchs is still very much in the race and he commented that "When I won the World Cup in 2001 I was 7th in the first competition and 3rd on the second day", so he is defintely still in the game!
The seven horse jump off was an exciting one which had the packed stadium on the edge of their seats - Yann Candelle jumped a super clear round in 36.58secs setting the standard from the very beginning and it left the 6 following with a bug task if they were to beat him.
In an amazing result Laura Kraut and Rolf-Goran Bengtsson both lowered two fences finishing with 8 faults in the exact same time of 38.26secs, something which is very rare and almost unheard of at this top level of the sport - this left them sharing equal 6th placing for the class.
Marco Kutscher and Montender were another eight fault jump off combination with Montender dropping a leg in the oxer and then when Montender was asked to turn in mid air he dropped the front pole of the double just three fences from home - their time of 37.65secs was good enough to put them into 5th spot.
Ludo Philippaerts and Parco looked like they might grab the lead from Yann Candelle with their big, strong jumping being clean through to the right side of the finish flags but when the clock stopped it saw them 1.17secs behind on time but now we had two double clears - could anyone else come through with the goods was the question everyone was asking.
Second last to go was the Frenchman, Bruno Broucqsault and Dileme de Cephe who looked perhaps a little less "polished" in round one but who still jumped their way into this jump off and he knew that he had Shutterfly following him,meaning he had to "pull out all stops"! Bruno set off in a lovely rhythm and, meeting all his fences on a perfect stride, took a brave gallop to the last to break the beam in 36.55 seconds and take over the lead. Bruno's excitement at going clear in round one was nothing compared to his complete exhilaration when he realised that this took him into the lead and so the worst he could do would be to finish in second position to add to his 6th from the previous day.
Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum has already added a nice "first" to her C.V when she became the first lady-rider to win the Western European League as she came into this final. It was obvious from the first strides through the start flags, that Meredith was not going to "risk everything" to beat Bruno and she and Shutterfly put in a fast and accurate ride, without pressuring the horse and they stopped the clock on 36.74secs - taking 3rd position and leaving the win to Bruno.
After the class Meredith said, "I just didn’t want to overdo it today. I have been riding tactically and I want to have something in reserve for Sunday". No doubt, with the way this horse has been going throughout the season and in the first two days of competition in Milan this weekend, Meredith would be feeling quietly confident going into the final competition on Sunday.
Yann Candele's second placing has brought him to the attention of many in the world equestrian press coprs and when asked if he might now be considered as a contender for Athens he said "I don’t believe that will happen because of the way the system works but anyway I don’t think my horse is ready for the Olympic Games. I am very happy just to be here – the horse is full of promise for the future but I don’t want to ask too much of him too soon. My aim when I arrived here was to get through to Sunday’s competition and I have done that".
Considering that Yann came into round two from the previous day's placing of 32nd this is a showjumper who is letting everyone know that he is "here to be taken seriously" - naturally everyone is wondering how he will cope with the pressure of the final round which is going to be a tough two round class where, no doubt, the Course Designer will be asking the toughest of questions! When Yann was asked how he would cope with the pressue he said, "Maybe the other riders are more used to this level of competition than I am but I will be fine and at ease competing on Sunday".
The winner of todays class Frencman Bruno Broucqsault was delighted with the position in which he now finds himself. "I knew what kind of courses to expect when I came here because I have jumped Vezzani’s tracks before in Rome" he said. His unorthodox and unpredictable riding style may cause a few heart-stopping moments every now and then but his partnership with his horse is well-cemented as he has had the 13 year old gelding since he was a three year old and they know each other very well. He is determined to give Meredith a run for her money but the result is in no way settled yet as Malin Baryard, lying third with six points, Ludo who has now improved to fifth after the results were transformed into points after yesterday’s class, and Wim Schroder, carrying seven points, are within reach should things go awry for the leaders in the last competition.
Australian rookie, Tim Armitrano, who exceeded expectations on Day one should not feel too bad with his equal 33rd placing which he shared with reigning Olympic Gold medal horse and rider combination Jeroen Dubbeldam and De Sjiem when they both finished with 16 faults.
Sunday is going to be an exciting World Cup Final deciding class where a champion will be crowned - this series of Indoor Jumping competitions has plenty to give spectators and the packed stadium are showing their appreciation for all the riders efforts.
RESULT: 1, Dileme de Cephe (Bruno Broucqsault) Fra 0/0 36.55; 2, Mill Creek Sweet Dream (Yann Candele) Fra 0/0 36.58; 3, Shutterfly (Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum) Ger 0/0 36.74; 4, Parco (Ludo Philippaerts) Bel 0/0 37.75; 5, Montender (Marco Kutscher) Ger 0/8 37.65; equal 6, Anthem (Laura Kraut) USA 0/8 38.26, MacKinley (Rolf-Goran Bengtsson) Swe 08 38.26; equal 8, Lucie (Lars Nieberg) Ger, Flashlight (Dominey Alexander) RSA, JPC Modesto Equifoam (Jean-Marc Nicolas) Fra, VDL Groep Eve des Etisses Hubert Bourdy Fra, El Campeon’s So Long (Nicole Shahinian-Simpson) USA, Hilton Flight (Richard Spooner) USA, Audi’s Jikke (Eric Van der Vleuten) Ned, Albin 111 (Juan Carlos Garcia) Ita, Cigale du Tallis (Eugenie Angot) Fra, Handel 11 (Michael Whitaker) GB, Eurocommerce Montreal (Wim Schroder) Ned, H&M Butterfly Flip (Malin Baryard) Swe, Tinka’s Boy (Markus Fuchs) Sui 4 faults; 21, Salamandra Chapman Rouge (Andre Miranda) Bra 5 faults; equal 22, Novesta (Gunnar Klettenberg) Est, Djane de Fontenis (Grzegorz Kubiak) Pol, Catch 22 (Ainsley Vince) Can, Lauriston (Peter Wylde) USA, Lando (Otto Becker) Ger, Qerly Chin (Christophe Barbeau) Sui, Equest Carnute (Thomas Velin) Den, Anka (Markus Ehning) Ger; 30, Camirez B (Toni Hassmann) Ger 11; equal 31, Survival (Seiji Ninomiya) Jpn, Corlanda (Sencer Can) Tur 12 faults; equal 33, Mr Innocent (Timothy Amitrano) Aus, De Sjiem (Jeroen Dubbeldam) Ned 16 faults: 35, Wembley da Lagoa (Marcelo Lemes de Souza) Bra 20 faults; Remember Me (Laura Linback) USA, El Campeon’s Ado Annie (William Simpson) USA Ret.
STANDINGS AFTER SECOND FINAL COMPETITION:
Equal
1. Bruno Broucqsault (Dileme de Cephe) Fra - 0
Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (Shutterfly) Ger - 0
3.
Markus Fuchs (Tinka’s Boy) Sui - 4
4.
Malin
Baryard (H&M Butterfly Flip) Swe - 6
5.
Ludo Philippaerts (Parco) Bel - 7
6. Wim Schroder (Eurocommerce Montreal) Ned – 8
Equal 7. Eugenie Angot (Cigale du Tallis) Fra - 9
Marco
Kutscher (Montender) Ger – 9
Michael
Whitaker (Portofino/Handel) GB – 9
Equal
10.
Juan Carlos Garcia (Albin) Ita - 10
Markus
Ehning (Anka) Ger - 10
Rolf-Goran
Bengtsson (MacKinley) Swe – 10
Equal
13.
Eric Van der Vleuten (Audi’s Jikke) Ned - 11
Thomas
Velin (Equest Carnute) Den - 11
Equal
15.
Christophe Barbeau (Qerly Chin) Sui - 13
Richard
Spooner (Hilton Flight) USA - 13
Equal
17.
Laura Kraut (Anthem) USA - 14
Yann
Candele (Mill Creek Sweet Dream) Fra - 14
Equal
19. Nicole
Shahinian-Simpson (El Campeon’s So Long) USA - 15
Toni Hassmann (Camirez B) Ger - 15
Equal
21.
Hubert Bourdy (VDL Groep Eve des Etisses) Fra - 17
Otto Becker (Lando) Ger - 17
23.
Peter Wylde (Lauriston) USA - 18
Equal 24. Dominey Alexander (Flashlight) RSA - 19
Jean-Marc Nicolas (JPC Modesto Equifoam) Fra - 19
Equal
26.
Ainsley Vince (Catch 22) Can - 20
Jeroen Dubbeldam (Nassau/De Sjiem) - 20
Equal
28.
Grzegorz Kubiak (Djane de Fontenis) Pol - 22
Lars Nieberg (Lucie) Ger - 22
29.Andre
Miranda (Salamandra Chapman Rouge) Bra – 24
30. Gunnar Klettenberg (Novesta) Est – 26
31. Sencer Can (Corlanda) Tur - 27
32. William Simpson (El Campeon’s Ado Annie) USA – 28
Equal 34. Laura Lindback (Remember Me) USA – 31
Seiji Ninomiya (Survival) Jpn – 31
Timothy Amitrano (Mr Innocent) Aus - 31
37.
Marcelo Lemes de Souza (Wembley da Lagoa) Bra – 33
38. Rodrigo Pessoa (Baloubet du Rouet) Bra – 36
Equal 39. Elliot Stone (Free Style) Can - 39
McLain
Ward (Goldika) USA – 39
Norman
dello Joio (Quriel) USA – 39
Qabil
Ambak (Opium Metodo) Mas – 39.
As we come into the final day of competition on Sunday here are some facts and figures for you to ponder on during Saturday:
This is the 26th World Cup Final with the series beginning in 1979, and there riders from 12 different leagues qualifying for the Final. The Leagues are Central Europe, Western Europe, USA West Coast, USA East Coast, Canada, South America, South Africa, Central Asia, South East Asia, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
Of the riders competing in Milan this weekend, Britain’s Michael Whitaker has the greatest number of starts in World Cup Finals – 15. Next in line are Lars Nieberg and Ludo Philippaerts who have started on 10 occasions while Rodrigo Pessoa, who withdrew after the first competition, has had nine starts.
Only one rider has ever won the series three years in succession – Rodrigo Pessoa winner in 1998/99/2000 – even more remarkably the Brazilian rider achieved that distinction partnering the same horse on each occasion – Baloubet du Rouet.
Rodrigo was just 25 years old when he recorded his first success but the youngest rider ever to win the World Cup title was Canada’s Mario Deslauriers who was 19 years of age when steering Aramis to victory in 1984.
