Madrid—May 20
World No. 1 Kent Farrington thrilled thousands of spectators as nine out of the top 10 riders in the world locked horns in Madrid for the fourth Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of the 2017 circuit. Fans were kept on the edge of their seats as the top American rider and his horse Gazelle triumphed against a heavyweight field, nailing the win by a mere half a second.
A thrilled Farrington admitted he “won by a whisker” as he paid respect to the extraordinary caliber of riders and horses that turned the competition into a power play of precision, bravery and pin-point timing in the Spanish capital.
Kent Farrington and Gazelle on their way to victory. Photo by Stefano Grasso/GCT
“It was an amazing competition here—a great city, a fantastic ring, big courses and tough competition. I really won by a whisker today, it was a coin toss who won,” Farrington said. “Both of these guys [Ehning, who was second, and van der Vlueten, who was third] have won the grand prix before so I am glad they let me in the club! I’m thrilled. I think what I have today is years of work, great support and all my owners and really strong team of multiple horses. At the highest level it takes a big team of horses and I feel very fortunate.”
Ken Farrington reveled in his win at the LGCT Grand Prix of Madrid. Photo by Stefano Grasso/GCT
Lorenzo de Luca of Italy continues his reign of the LGCT Ranking lead, with the Italian star once again in an electric jump-off and keeping his points tally high. With a score of 133 overall, Lorenzo will have one eye over his shoulder, as Maikel van der Vlueten of the Netherlands has closed the gap to the top now sitting just 9 points behind on 124 overall after his third podium this season. Compatriot Harrie Smolders has leapfrogged up to third, with a collection of 86 points as the championship race continues.
Course designer Santiago Varela Ullastres made full use of the galloping grass arena in his LGCT Grand Prix course in Madrid, where gradient plays a big factor in the way the course is ridden. The triple combination toward the end of the course was formidable, with both distances a little on the short stride and the horses fixed on the in-gate and home. Following the first couple of riders, the time allowed was altered from 80 seconds to 78s, as 25 took to the track with high hopes of the grand prix win.
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The two former LGCT Grand Prix of Madrid winning combinations were the first to jump clear. Marcus Ehning of Germany with Pret a Tout, and Maikel van der Vleuten of the Netherlands and VDL Groep Verdi TN N.O.P. put in foot-perfect rounds, putting them in the mix for the jump-off. Both looked strong to re-take the Madrid title, with their horses visibly enjoying the arena.
Denis Lynch of Ireland looked set to join them with new mount RMF Echo, until they rolled the final pole at the water tray, the crowd groaning in disappointment for the Irish rider. French rider Julien Epaillard and Quatrin de la Roque LM also had an unlucky pole at the triple combination, joining the likes of Ludger Beerbaum and Chiara, Harrie Smolders with Don VHP Z, Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani with First Devision, Eric Lamaze with Fine Lady, Pieter Devos and U.S. rider Audrey Coulter who all picked up 4 faults. Other big names such as Christian Ahlmann of Germany and Taloubet Z and Kevin Staut of France couldn’t keep the poles from rolling.
Qatar’s Bassem Hassan Mohammed put in a phenomenal performance with his 11-year-old bay gelding Gunder, and de Luca proved his consistency with the expressive Armitages Boy also jumped clear, raising the temperature of the final yet to come.
It was a five rider jump-off as the sun began its slow descent and the anticipation around the arena grew. With the smallest margins separating the leading riders the crowd were on the edge of their seats, and as each top rider came into the ring the crowd fell silent in anticipation.
The jump-off required full turbo charge from the world class combinations, featuring many of the same tricky fences such as the second part of the triple combination, and full height verticals. A galloping finish with seven strides to the final flier had the crowd on the edge of their seats, and daring those brave enough to take a stride out to soar on six.
Ehning and Pret A Tout were the first to go, fully revved up to defend their 2016 LGCT Grand Prix of Madrid title. With a calm exterior and nerves of steel the top German rider kept up the gallop, with the large striding chestnut eating up the distances to set the benchmark at 45.68 seconds. Former Madrid Grand Prix winners van der Vleuten and VDL Groep Verdi TN N.O.P. gave it their all—they had a scary touch of the vertical, but finished clear just fractions behind in 45.86 seconds.
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The showground went silent once more as Farrington and Gazelle entered the ring. The little horse jumped her heart out for the American, turning swiftly and leaping at the fences with a flat-out gallop to the last. Shaving off fractions of a second, Farrington guided the fiery horse to the final fence, and the crowd erupted in cheers as they pipped Marcus’ time by 5/10s of a second to set the new time to beat at 45.18 seconds.
Hassan Mohammed and the huge striding Gunder rolled a pole, and then took out the penultimate vertical with a water tray dropping them down to fifth on 8 faults. Last to go was LGCT Ranking leader de Luca, who entered the arena with Armitages Boy looking like a force to be reckoned with. The pair were slower from the off, with Armitages Boy expressive with his hind legs, and bucking his way clear but slower in 50.59 seconds overall.
So it was Farrington and the brave-hearted Gazelle who leapt to the win, with Ehning taking second and van der Vleuten in third. The Tour now looks to Hamburg next weekend, where Round 5 of the 15-leg series promises further top class action and drama as the race for the title rockets up a gear.
