Richard Vogel (GER) and United Contact S – Copyright ©FEI/Richard Juilliart
On an evening of sensational sport, Germany’s Richard Vogel steered the good stallion United Contact S to win the second leg of the Longines FEI Leaping World Cup™ Remaining 2023 in Omaha (USA). However it’s Denmark’s Andreas Schou (Darc de Lux) and Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer (Vancouver de Lanlore) who share the lead going into Saturday’s third and deciding competitors.
The highest three within the opening Velocity class all misplaced their grip, however in a single day chief and world primary, Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann (King Edward), solely slipped to 3rd with a single fence down. Nonetheless, Britain’s Scott Brash (Hi there Jefferson) plummeted from second to equal-ninth when leaving three on the ground, whereas Germany’s Daniel Deusser (Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z) retired and is now utterly out of competition.
With factors from each the Velocity leg and the Leap-Off now transformed into penalties, there’s lower than a fence between the highest six going into the top-30 last-day check.
Schou and Schwizer are out in entrance on a zero rating and von Eckermann will carry only one penalty level, whereas 26-year-old Vogel will begin with two on the board and Brazil’s Yuri Mansur and the USA’s Hunter Holloway will begin with three penalties already on their scorecard.
The result’s removed from determined as a result of time faults or a fence down on Saturday can change the whole lot.
The important thing
Solely 9 of the 39 starters discovered the important thing to a different excellent 14-fence first-round course set by Portugal’s Bernardo Costa Cabral. No matter expertise this was a observe that examined each single rider, and whereas the oxer at fence 10 proved notably influential. there have been poles on the bottom all the best way to the final.
First into the jump-off, flying Frenchman Julien Epaillard left the door vast open with two down with Donatello d’Auge, however Norway’s Victoria Gulliksen adopted with a cracking clear from her beloved Papa Roach in 38.71 to take the early lead.
Then America’s Devin Ryan and Eddie Blue, runners-up on the 2018 Remaining in Paris, hit the final fence earlier than Harry Charles cast a brand new lead with Balou du Reventon that stopped the clock in 35.25 seconds.
The British rider’s benefit was short-lived when Vogel’s big-striding horse galloped via the end in 35.11 seconds with obvious ease. Though Schou (35.58 seconds) and last-to-go Schwizer (36.18 seconds) left all of the timber intact, they needed to accept third and fourth locations, respectively, whereas Vogel reigned supreme forward of Charles.
Delighted
Speaking about his win, Vogel, whose current type has seen him rise 23 locations on this planet rankings within the final month, stated, “It’s our first World Cup Remaining, so we’re delighted with the way it has gone thus far. Clearly, we are going to attempt to do our greatest on the ultimate day, however we’re already very pleased!”
Runner-up Charles, who’s highest ranked U25 rider and quantity 15 within the newest world rankings, was additionally greater than happy. He’s clearly thrilled to be partnering the good Balou du Reventon who solely joined his string final December.
“He’s not likely a horse, he’s a Pegasus! For certain he’s the perfect horse I’ve ever ridden and even at 17 years previous, he’s nonetheless probably the greatest horses on this planet. I’ve been watching him since I used to be rising up and it’s an honour and a privilege to be sat on him. I like each minute of each time I get to go within the ring with him!” he stated proudly.
He described the course as “improbable… I didn’t suppose it was too massive however it rode actually troublesome and we obtained an ideal end result. Loads of good guys from yesterday didn’t fairly have the end result they needed right now which was good for me! So it has made it a extremely thrilling competitors.”
Good-looking stallion
Third-placed Schou additionally had loads of good issues to say about his good-looking stallion Darc de Lux, who has helped place him within the joint lead going into the ultimate day.
“Yesterday we managed to remain close to the highest, and right now he got here out like he did all of the indoor season and fought for me all the best way round and gave me the clear spherical that was wanted.” When the penultimate vertical got here up very deep, the 12-year-old horse didn’t hesitate to oblige.
“That was all credit score on him. I deserved to have a mistake in that flip. I had seen Richard’s spherical and I knew I needed to give all of it, and after I put a lot stress on him the canter will get troublesome to deal with. After I turned, the gap wasn’t there and I had so as to add one (stride), however he’s such a pointy and intelligent horse that he managed.”
When requested if he was shocked to search out himself within the joint lead, he replied, “I feel I’ve to say sure! However once you see his (Darc de Lux’s) document all indoor season, he jumped six World Cups and ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED) and Geneva (SUI) and he’s been clear in most or most one down. He’s such a constant, intelligent, and cautious horse, so he truly deserves to be there as a result of he’s truly probably the greatest!”
by Louise Parkes
