GCL Championship Unlikely To Be Won This Weekend After Shock Refusal Leaves Race Wide Open in GCL Šamorín
Mdmar – Samorin
Hot favourites Valkenswaard United pairing of
world number one Peder Fredricson and leading lady Edwina Tops-Alexander
finished with an unexpected 14 faults to carry over to tomorrow’s second-round
– putting their chances of claiming the Championship win this weekend at risk.
Producing their lowest
rank after R1 of this season Valkenswaard United team member Peder Fredricson
explained: “This is our sport, it’s not machines, its animals we are riding
and you never really know before you go in the ring how it’s going to go.
There’s a new day tomorrow and we will try to do a double clear tomorrow and we
will be right up there again.”
* “mdmar‘s” news site for horse racing and equestrian
Explaining the shock
refusal, Edwina Tops-Alexander said: “To be honest I
watched quite a few horses and quite a few were spooking on that fence. I don’t
know why, it was strange it was a simple fence so I made sure to show it to him
when I came in. I went a bit for the time maybe I turned a little short
but normally he wouldn’t duck out like that. He really caught me by surprise.
Thank god Peder was there today as usual, number 1 ranked rider in the world
which is fantastic.”
Taking their first pole
position of the year Doha Falcons produced two flawless and fast clear
rounds from Bassem Mohammed riding 14-year-old Caletto Cabana and Yuri Masur on
Vitiki. Producing the first double clear of the competition the Falcons
flew into the lead at the stunning X-Bionic Sphere resort in Šamorín followed
by Madrid In Motion father and son pairing of Eric and Maikel van der Vleuten
and third place for the London Knights Olivier Philippaerts alongside Emily
Moffitt.
* “mdmar‘s” news site for horse racing and equestrian
Šamorín has over 800
years of history and a great tradition in sport providing the perfect location
for a battle of the best in the beautiful venue is set in over 100 hectares
offering excellent facilities for sport including 8 oversized arenas (3 grass
arenas, 2 indoor arenas, 3 sand arenas) and a 1.6-kilometer-long galloping
track.
London Knights have
enforced their position in the top 4 of the overall season championship which
would fast track them through to the GCL Super Semi-Finals after their
performance today. A foot perfect double clear from Philippaerts onboard Zayado
and Moffitt paired with Winning Good put them straight in contention for a
solid team result tomorrow.
Christian Ahlmann
brought out his top mount Solid Gold Z for today’s first round. Although
incredible horsepower a touch at the double put the team on 4 faults and piled
on the pressure onto Max Kühner’s shoulders. They lived up to their consistent
name and secured a clear on Elektric Blue P and left them in the fight.
After a sensational
clear round from young gun Jeanne Sadran and Vannan, their second one this
season it was a costly early fault from Monaco Aces’ Laura Kraut and Confu
putting them on the back foot for tomorrow’s second round.
* “mdmar‘s” news site for horse racing and equestrian
With half the field
finishing on just 4 faults time was a crucial factor in today’s first-round but
the Berlin Eagles opted for steadier rounds putting them right down the order
after Ludger Berrbaum and Mila had one down. While Weishaupt and Cody left all
the fences up but were over 5 seconds slower.
It was a blistering time
from Darragh Kenny and Volnay du Boisdeville but an unlucky pole meant Gregory
Wathelet had to go clear on Picobello Full House Ter Linden Z to stay in the
race. The pair did exactly this but leaving room for Valkenswaard United to
slide ahead if they could manage a double clear.
Still the only team
guaranteed to finish in the top 4 Valkenswaard United set off with intent.
World number one Peder Fredricson wearing a ranking leader armband on both
sleeves as he cruises Catch Me Not Old through the finish line for a flawless 0
faults. But it all fell apart after an uncharacteristic spook at some flowers
from Tops-Alexander’s Fellow Castlefield meant the pair picked up 12 jumping
faults and 2 time – carrying 14 faults through to tomorrow’s final and crushing
United’s chance of taking the win in the Championship this weekend.
After round one how it
stands in the Championship:
- Shanghai Swans close into Valkenswaard United closing the gap from 21 points to 13 points
- Paris Panthers close in on Shanghai Swans from 3 points to just 1 point
- Valkenswaard United on 14 faults
- Shanghai Swans on 4 faults
- Paris Panthers on 4 faults
* “mdmar‘s” news site for horse racing and equestrian
The “Midmar” website for horse and equestrian races is keen to cover and follow all competitions related to horses, from show jumping, Horseracing, speed and endurance races, and purebred Arabian horse beauty shows, which belong to the Arab Gulf countries at home and abroad in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
