PrintAndrew Hoy’s show jumping troubles hand the victory to Fox-Pitt, on a new four-star contender.
William Fox-Pitt rocketed to the top of the inaugural HSBC FEI Classics leaderboard with his win in the Luhmühlen CCI**** (Germany), June 12-15, on four-star debutant, Macchiato 8.
Winning perhaps the easiest points anyone will get this season—only 24 horses started and 14 finished—Fox-Pitt now has a 10-point lead over Phillip Dutton for the $150,000 series prize. With his Burghley CCI**** (England) winner Parkmore Ed and Badminton CCI**** (England) third-placed finisher Ballincoola not even his first choice for Hong Kong, Fox-Pitt has a strong chance of retaining his lead at the remaining Classics events, Burghley (England) and Pau (France).
Macchiato, a 10-year-old Argentine-bred, was originally entered for Badminton, but Fox-Pitt diverted him to Germany, thinking this a better test for this particular horse, which he owns with Jane Keir.
The pair rose from ninth after dressage and, flawless in the show jumping, benefited from the costly rounds of other leading lights including cross-country leader Moonfleet (Andrew Hoy) who lowered four fences and overnight second Didier Dhennin of France on Ismene Du Temple, who had three fences down.
“Macchiato has wildly exceeded my expectations,” said Fox-Pitt. “He is a consistent horse and will have learned a lot. Above all, he’s a horse that wants to do his best; he keeps trying for you right until the end.
“To learn I am at the top of the HSBC Classics is another bonus. Linking the four-star events is a real step in the right direction and provides a great autumn focus.”
Germany’s Frank Ostholt was thrilled with his second place, just 0.4 penalties behind on Little Paint, who had a run-out here last year.
Ostholt endured an awful start to Luhmühlen, when his long-term partner and team stalwart Air Jordan resolutely stopped at a step down into water during the German Olympic trial over the CIC three-star track and found themselves off the team. Little Paint’s four-star effort a few hours later earned him a late appearance on the Olympic reserve list and, together with a good CIC result on third string Mr Medicott, restored his rider’s self confidence.
The concurrent CCI and CIC also provided a rollercoaster weekend for Andrew Hoy, who was riding under some pressure: his FEI disciplinary decision is imminent, and this was his last chance to qualify his former Badminton winner for Hong Kong following their fall at the same event last month, causing Hoy to be grounded with a shoulder injury.
In the morning Hoy took a ducking when Master Monarch fell in Luhmühlen’s main feature water jump, the Milford Teich, during the CIC. But, cheered by his wife Bettina’s unassailable lead in the CIC on Ringwood Cockatoo, Andrew gave Moonfleet the textbook ride to finish the four-star in overnight lead. Four show jumps dropped him to fourth, but he got his qualifying result.
A Small Field
William Fox-Pitt rocketed to the top of the inaugural HSBC FEI Classics leaderboard with his win in the Luhmühlen CCI**** (Germany), June 12-15, on four-star debutant, Macchiato 8.
Winning perhaps the easiest points anyone will get this season—only 24 horses started and 14 finished—Fox-Pitt now has a 10-point lead over Phillip Dutton for the $150,000 series prize. With his Burghley CCI**** (England) winner Parkmore Ed and Badminton CCI**** (England) third-placed finisher Ballincoola not even his first choice for Hong Kong, Fox-Pitt has a strong chance of retaining his lead at the remaining Classics events, Burghley (England) and Pau (France).
Macchiato, a 10-year-old Argentine-bred, was originally entered for Badminton, but Fox-Pitt diverted him to Germany, thinking this a better test for this particular horse, which he owns with Jane Keir.The pair rose from ninth after dressage and, flawless in the show jumping, benefited from the costly rounds of other leading lights including cross-country leader Moonfleet (Andrew Hoy) who lowered four fences and overnight second Didier Dhennin of France on Ismene Du Temple, who had three fences down.
“Macchiato has wildly exceeded my expectations,” said Fox-Pitt. “He is a consistent horse and will have learned a lot. Above all, he’s a horse that wants to do his best; he keeps trying for you right until the end.
“To learn I am at the top of the HSBC Classics is another bonus. Linking the four-star events is a real step in the right direction and provides a great autumn focus.”
Germany’s Frank Ostholt was thrilled with his second place, just 0.4 penalties behind on Little Paint, who had a run-out here last year.
Ostholt endured an awful start to Luhmühlen, when his long-term partner and team stalwart Air Jordan resolutely stopped at a step down into water during the German Olympic trial over the CIC three-star track and found themselves off the team. Little Paint’s four-star effort a few hours later earned him a late appearance on the Olympic reserve list and, together with a good CIC result on third string Mr Medicott, restored his rider’s self confidence.
The concurrent CCI and CIC also provided a rollercoaster weekend for Andrew Hoy, who was riding under some pressure: his FEI disciplinary decision is imminent, and this was his last chance to qualify his former Badminton winner for Hong Kong following their fall at the same event last month, causing Hoy to be grounded with a shoulder injury.
In the morning Hoy took a ducking when Master Monarch fell in Luhmühlen’s main feature water jump, the Milford Teich, during the CIC. But, cheered by his wife Bettina’s unassailable lead in the CIC on Ringwood Cockatoo, Andrew gave Moonfleet the textbook ride to finish the four-star in overnight lead. Four show jumps dropped him to fourth, but he got his qualifying result.
A Small Field
