Las Vegas—April 19
Hold onto your hats, we’ve got some pretty amazing show jumping coming up in the final two rounds of the Longines FEI World Cup Final, starting at 12:15 p.m. PDT (3:15 p.m. EDT).
There are some fairytales in the process of being written. Will Steve Guerdat finally win a World Cup Final after being second, second and fifth in the last three Finals? Will the superhorse Flexible pull out another World Cup win at age 19? Will Irish teenager Bertram Allen sweep up and amaze us all? Or will some other rider put together the day of a lifetime and take the title? We’ll have to find out, and we’ll have a round-by-round commentary on all the action.
Missed any of the action earlier this week? Check out all of the Chronicle’s coverage.
Need to see a start list? See Round 1’s order of go here. Note that they go in reverse order of standing. Wondering what the Round 1 course is? Click here to see it. And what about Round 2? Here’s that course. But we’ll have to wait until after Round 1 to have an order for Round 2, since they go in reverse order of standings.
Want to watch the live feed? Click here to go to FEI TV (take note, it’s not a free service).
1. KS Coradina/Andis Varna (Latvia) in 30th with 28 penalties
Youngest horse in the line up, 8-year-old KS Coradina, was first in the ring. She had the first fence down but made the triple look like a cake walk (impressive, given her age). She also had the natural vertical down, B of the double, and fence 8 before Andis elected to retire. It was by no means a disorganized effort, a good outing for a young horse.
2. Bobby/Chris Sorensen (Canada) in 29th with 26 penalties
Bobby and his funny little tongue hanging out his bridle were in the ring next. Sorensen and the gelding also had the first fence down, carrying it on the chest a bit, but jumped wonderfully through the triple. The horse has a spectacular hind end, and gets some claps from the crowd for his efforts there. He has a couple more rails, ending on a score of 12 faults. It’s a beautiful horse with a lot of ring presence.
3. Connery/Luca Maria Moneta (Italy) in 28th with 23 penalties
Its Luca’s first World Cup appearance, but he doesn’t look it as ne negotiates the beginning of the course with ease. Connery is not a terribly large horse, and is cat like in his efforts over the massive obstacles. The crowd gets behind him as he gets closer to the end of the course, still clear. They groan as he has fence 12 down, ending on the four faults. Not bad for your first World Cup!
4. Nouvelle/Laura Kraut (United States) tied for 25th with 21 penalties
The first US rider in the ring, Laura gets the expected home crowd roar. Its her eighth World Cup, and she also has the first fence down. It’s a lilac and white colored fence, perhaps tricky for the horses to judge the color. She has a rail in the triple and at the single oxer, but it’s a fairly nice round. She ends with 12 faults to add to her score.
5. Coral Reef Follow Me II/Vinton Karrasch (United States) tied for 25th with 21 faults
Vinton has a couple rails down early in the course- the horse looks like it might be a bit strong in the bridle, but its overall a pretty organized ride and he ends on the eight faults for this round.
6. Baronez/Kirsten Coe (United States) tied for 25th with 21 faults
A big chestnut horse, Baronez makes the jumps seem easy with his impressive scope. He catches a good deal of airtime over the liver pool but has the back rail on his way down. Kirsten really rides him at the last oxer, a very wide jump, and they end on just the four faults.
7. First Devision/Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani (Qatar) tied for 23rd with 20 penalties
Ali and his horse are making this course look considerably easier than it should with some awesome jumping efforts, and the crowd groans when he has just the last fence down.
8. Jonkheer Z/Karl Cook (United States) tied for 23rd with 20 penalties
Jonkheer is truly a gorgeous animal, you can practically see your reflection in his glistening bay haunches. He tips a few rails down, but they are just light rubs, and he ends up with five fences down, including the last.
9. Toulago/Pius Schwizer (Switzerland) in 21st with 18 penalities
Toulango in the ring next, he has a slightly unconventional jumping style with a low front end, but it seems to work for him! He has the single oxer down with his front legs, and a couple other fences come down from front rubs, but overall the pair put in a respectable round, ending with 12 faults.
10. Edesa S Banjan/Geir Gulliksen (Norway) tied for 18th with 17 faults
Geir and Edesa S Banjan have the A element of the triple down as well as the single oxer. The horse seems to be getting hung up in the air just a touch, perhaps causing a few of the back rails he had down. He ends up with 5 fences down, but the round was by no means disorganized.
11. Spirit Magic/Mauel Alvarez Ruizgalindo (Mexico) tied for 18th with 17 faults
What a great name for a horse- Spirit Magic! He’s a massive bay gelding, and after a sticky deep distance into the triple the crowd (based on groans) thought would end disastrously, he makes it out with just the C element down, but stops at the vertical going away from the triple. The pair continue on, but the horse is sticky off the ground into the double, pulling both rails, before Manuel pulls the horse out at the liverpool and retires.
12. Qurack de Falaise HDC/Kevin Staut (France) tied for 18th with 17 faults
Eighth ranked rider in the world Kevin Staut up next. He and his horse make easy work of the triple, but catches the Vegas vertical with his front end. The horse jumps maybe a touch low with his front end, and also pulls a front rail at the final oxer, ending on 8 faults.
13. Cool And Easy/Hans-Dieter Dreher (Germany) in 17th with 16 penalties
Cool and Easy makes the triple look like just that. Its incredible to see how high the rider’s bodies get in the air over the fences- they’re nearly even with the first row of the crowd in the stadium! The pair catch a couple rails early in the course, but nothing major, and the big gray horse ends on a score of 8 faults.
14. Primeval Dejavu/Bassem Hassan Mohammed (Qatar) in 16th with 15 penalties
Primeval Dejavu makes the meter 60 triple looks like a gymnastic exercise. The first part of the course was a bit smother than the second, and the pair pulled a couple rails later in the round, rubbing the last fence but leaving it up for a score of 8.
15. Glock’s Cognac Champblanc/Gerco Schröder (the Netherlands) in 15th with 14 penalties
Glock’s Cognac Champblanc in the ring next (sponsored, in case you’re curious, by yes, that Glock the gun manufacturer). She’s a delicately built gray mare, very leggy, She has A of the triple down and the last fence, but it was a nicely ridden round. The mare looks very sensitive, she goes in a hackmore and seems very responsive to it.
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16. Carlo 273/Sergio Alvarez Moya (Spain) tied for 13th with 13 penalties
The Jaws music they play as Sergio approaches the first fence is rather entertaining. Carlo is a quick gray gelding, very fast across the ground and not wasting a lot of time in the air. He pulls a rail at the Vegas vertical late in the course, and ends on four faults.
17. Cornet d’Amour/Daniel Deusser (Germany) tied for 13th with 13 penalities
Number one ranked rider in the world and defending World Cup champion Daniel Deusser in the ring next (there are billboards of the pair around the Vegas strip). Daniel has to ride a bit through the triple, and pulls a rail at the very tall natural vertical, and the Liverpool oxer (which a good many of the riders have had down). He ends with just the two fences down, and is currently ranked 14th.
18. Casello/Douglas Lindelöw (Sweden) in 12th with 10 penalties
Casello gives the triple about six inches of clearance, clocking around the first part of the course like its nothing. The crowd gets quiet as he gets closer to the end without faults, giving the second to last a hard rub before going clear. We have our first clear!
19. VDL Groep Verdi Tn N.O.P./Maikel van der Vleuten (the Netherlands) in 11th with 8 penalties
Like most o the VDL horses, Groep Verdi Tn N.O.P. jumps in great form. He has a couple hard rubs that elicit ‘ohs’ from the crowd, but leaves all of the fences up for the second clear in a row!
20. Barron/Lucy Davis (United States) tied for eighth on 7 penalties
Young Lucy is already on her third World Cup, and is currently ranked fifth in the running for this year’s World Cup. She has the second fence down, a huge vertical, but continues on course unfazed and in good form. She tips the second to last fence down to add two rails to her score, and moving into the 12th position for the final.
21. Rothchild/McLain Ward (United States) tied for eighth on 7 penalties
Mclain tells Rothchild to whoa in the triple, and nearly makes it through, but pulls the back rail at the C element. Rothchild has his aerodynamic ears on as always, and pulls a rail at the last fence as well, ending on 8 faults and moving into the 11th place for the World Cup Final.
22. VDL Zirocco Blue N.O.P./Jur Vrieling (the Netherlands) tied for eighth on 7 penalties
Zirocco does this funny little kick out with his hind end that is quite endearing. He jumps with great from, but gets hung up in the air to pull both top rails at the Liverpool. He has a couple other hang up moments that get gasps from the crowd, and has the last fence down.
23. Simon/Beezie Madden (United States) tied for fifth with 6 penalties
Only Beezie could manage to make a World Cup Final look like an equitation round. Simon is jumping huge over everything and it doesn’t move her leg or seat one bit. He drifts a little left in the double to the Liverpool but is clear. She gets very deep to the CP oxer, but clears it (much to the appreciation of the crowd) and the crowd yells get up as she’s clear over the final fence. She goes into the lead at this point overall!
24. Domino/Jos Verlooy (Belgium) tied for fifth with 6 penalties
Beezie has company for the lead now- 19 year old Jos posts a clear round and is tied for the lead! They had a very smooth round, and Domino is very catlike in his efforts over the massive course.
25. PSG Future/Martin Fuchs (Switzerland) tied for fifth with 6 penalties
PSG Future gives the liverpool oxer a spectacular rub, but it manages to stay up. His luck ends at fence 12, one jump from home, and he has it down, ending on the four faults.
26. Vagabond de la Pomme/Penelope Leprevost (France) in fourth with 5 penalties
The massive plain bay Vagabond in the ring next- he is what people mean when they say a horse is built like a brick house. He makes easy work of the first half of the course, galloping around at quite a clip, and giving the last fence a light rub but leaving it up to post another clear round- they’re into the lead!
27. Molly Malone V/Bertram Allen (Ireland) in third with 1 penalty
Both Molly and Bertram are rather delicately built- the pair make great efforts over the first half of the course before reaching and pulling a rail at the single oxer across the middle of the ring. Molly nearly hits the right standard with her right hind end over the last fence, but she leaves it up and the pair ends with just four faults.
28. Albfuehren’s Paille/Steve Guerdat (Switzerland) tied for first with 0 penalties
Carrying zero faults into today’s round (and coming off a win in the reined cow horse demo last night) Steve flies around the first half of the course at a speedy clip. He’s only had the horse for 10 months, but they look like they’re been together for years. He gives a couple fences a good rub before making it clearover the last, going into the lead.
29. Flexible/Rich Fellers (United States) tied for first with 0 penalties
We can only hope all our horses look this good at 19. Flexi is jumping spectacularly, and the crowd is clucking right along with Rich. The groan as he pulls the plank on top of the Animo fence down is massive, and he also catches the last fence to add 8 faults to his score. He is now ranked sixth going into the final round of the World Cup!
We are now on a 30 minute break as the ring is prepared for the final round of the Longines FEI World Cup. The course will be changed around a bit (its not a jump off, just a second course), and if there happens to be a tie a jump off will follow this second round.
Baronez/Kirsten Coe (United States)
The big chestnut is back first in the ring. He pulls the Vegas vertical rail as well as the in of the double. He looks a bit (understandably) tired, not jumping quite as high over the course as the first round, and pulls four rails.
Qurack de Falaise H D C/Kevin Staut
The CP oxer comes down for Kevin, and the horse makes an odd twisting effort over the Liverpool (leaving it up). The triple is no problem, and the horse is going at a good speed, ending on four faults in this round, 29 total.
First Division/Shk. Ali Bin Khlaid Al Thani
Lets see if First Division can impress us again with his superb jumping form. The horse catches so much air time its incredible. He has the Liverpool rail out of the tight corner, and it seems to only make him jump better (seriously, his hind end is clearing everything by a foot). He ends on just the four faults, a total of 28 penalties.
Cool and Easy/Hans-Dieter Dreher
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Big, beautiful and gray Cool and Easy back on course. The pair are very organized and accurate around the track. They have the vertical coming into the combo down but it looks like the horse just misjudged its height. Everything else is beautiful- they end on four jumping and one time fault, a total of 29 penalties.
Primeval Dejavu/Bassem Hassan Mohammed
Another horse with a very impressive hind end, the pair makes easy work of the first half of the course, a very accurate ride. They just barely tap the B element and have it down in the triple, and have one time fault, with a total of 28 penalties.
Glock’s Cognac Champblanc/Gerco Schroder
The sensitive gray mare makes a beautiful effort to the first fence. Gerco really rides her into the oxer to double line and it works well for them. They make it through the triple with a few clucks of encouragement before making a bid at the final fence, ending with no jumping but one time fault, a total of 24 penalties.
Cornet d’Amour/Daniel Deusser
Number one rider in the world back in the ring. Cornet d’Amour is catching some serious air over this track. The whole ride is very quiet and accurate, no big moves or bids (he is number one). The triple looks unbelievably easy, but the vertical following it comes down. They have one time fault, four jumping, and a total of 26 penalties.
Carlo 273/ Sergio Alvarez Moya
Sergio looks to be going a bit quick around the course (maybe due to the time faults others have gotten). He catches the rail at the Longines oxer, but speeds through the triple no problem. He’s definitely quicker than the previous pairs. The horse sits down on the back rail of the last oxer and ends on 25 penalties total.
Barron/ Lucy Davis
Hard to resist playing California Girl with Lucy on course, right? Barron jumps superbly over the first few fences before hitting the Vegas vertical. He seems to be fighting her hand a bit, tossing his head to the same side over a few fences. They finish on three nice jumps, 19 total penalties.
Rothchild/Mclain Ward
Rothchild and Mclain just barely tap the CP oxer and it comes down, and then Rothchild grinds to a halt at the Liverpool oxer out of a tight corner, and Ward elects to retire.
VDL Zirocco Blue N.O.P./Maikel Van Der Vleuten
Another horse catching at least a foot and a half of air over the fences. They make a forward bid at the Liverpool oxer and it works well for them, but they have a rail at the skinny vertical. Another great effort at the massive Longines oxer and through the triple with ease. They get one time, four jumping faults, a total of 20 penalties.
Douglas Lindelow/ Casello
Casello has a bouncy bounding stride to the first couple fences, jumping well from it. He speeds up a bit through the double, but his pace seems a bit reserved. He adds a stride into the triple, but it works out, and he then pulls a rail at the following vertical and the last fence. They have 18 penalties total.
PSG Future/Martin Fuchs
Martin really has to ride through the Liverpool double line, growling loudly at the horse. It works out, but then he has the skinny vertical down. The horse jumps superbly through the triple, knees to eyeballs, but has the vertical following it down. He leaves really long to the last fence and hits the back rail. He ends on 23 penalties total.
VDL Groep Verdi Tn N.O.P./Maikel Van Der Vleuten
The horse is jumping in good form, as it did the previous round, but just doesn’t quite get high enough to one jump, taking the rail. He jumps well through the rest, ending on 12 penalitites.
Flexible/Rich Fellers
Some in the crowd can’t resist shouting “Go Flexi!” as Rich starts on course. Flexi is tossing his head a bit to the Liverpool, and has it down. He jumps very well through the triple, very quick over the top of the jumps. He pulls a rail at the lilac oxer before getting a bit deep to the last oxer and rounding up over it clear. He ends on 16 penalties.
Simon/Beezie Madden
Simon gets a bit deep to the CP oxer, eliciting gasp from the crowd as he clears it with impressive scope. The pair fly into the triple, making it through clear before having the vertical that has been coming down a lot after the triple. She has 10 penalties total.
Domino/Jos Verlooy
Young Jos and Verlooy lose their footing a bit to the Liverpool, but they are able to clear it and the double following. They get into the triple very quiet, and Jos really has to ride out, and they make it clear. He is very long to the lilac oxer, still clear, and deep to the last fence, which comes down. He ends on a total of 10 penalties.
Vagabond de la Pomme/Penelope Leprevost
The big beautiful bay Vagabond next, Penelope is currently tied for third. The horse is jumping wonderful, and doesn’t seem the least bit tired from the long competition. Through the triple with ease, and she too has that troublesome vertical down. She ends on a total of 9 penalties. They go into the lead with two riders left.
Molly Malone V/Bertram Allen
Lets see what the young Irish phenomenon can do. He pulls a rail at the CP oxer, before making quick and easy work of the Liverpool and double. He is much faster than the previous pairs, drifting right in the triple but going clear, leaving up the problem vertical. He ends on a total of 9 penalties.
Albfuehren’s Paille/ Steve Guerdat
He’s coming in with zero faults, and after a number of close calls to winning the World Cup, lets see if he can pull it off. He takes a while getting to the first fence and the timer nearly starts before he gets there. He really rides at the double and pull the a element down. The horse jumps very well over the Longines oxer, super through the triple. He really rides him at the last oxer, using his crop and pulling the back rail, but it doesn’t matter. He ends on 8 penalties, and wins the World Cup!
For the US, Rich Fellers and Flexible ended up in 7th place, Beezie Madden and Simon in 4th.
Ireland’s Bertram Allen took third, France’s Penelope Leprovost second, and Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat took first!
Find the full results here.
