The Italian Job! Olli Fletcher scores a win with BP Pocahontas
Monday 01 April 2024
Olli Fletcher scored a win at the start of his second week in Italy with BP Pocahontas.
Olli finished just off the podium in the competitive world ranking classes in Busto Arsizio 3* with Hello William the previous week, taking fourth in both the 1.45m speed and 1.45m two-phase and fifth in the 60-strong 1.55m Grand Prix.
He upped his game in Gorla Minore 2*, hitting top gear to urge the Emilion 10-year-old BP Pocahontas into victory, beating his 43 rivals with half a second to spare.
Olli had to settle for second 24 hours later as he eased DD star Flamingo into the runner-up spot of the 1.45m speed. Twenty-six riders came forward with Olli and the French-bred 11-year-old (Popstar Lozonais x Sandro) finishing almost four seconds behind the winner, Italy’s Bruno Chimirri aboard Samara.
Ben Maher is in the money in The USA
Ben Maher eased Ginger-Blue into third in the $62,500 Bainbridge 1.50m in the final week at the Winter Equestrian Festival, Wellington International, USA.
Sixty-four competitors contended course-designer Guilherme Jorge’s speed track with Ben, from the latter half of the draw, slipping the 13-year-old Plot Blue daughter into third 1.39 seconds behind the winner, The USA’s Karl Cook on Caracole De La Roque.
Competition was understandably fierce in the $500,000 5* Rolex Grand Prix as nine from a stellar field of 39 riders contended a mesmerising jump-off, Ben returning another foot-perfect clear on Dallas Vegas Batilly. But it only earned fifth place, 1.78 seconds behind the winning time set by Germany’s Christian Kukuk aboard Checker 47.
Jess Mendoza slipped the 13-year-old Chuck Bass (Centadel x Kannan) into third in the $62,500 2* Grand Prix. Six of the original entry of 44 returned for the jump-off, Jess and the year-old posting another clear round to finish 1.60 seconds behind the winner, The USA’s Eve Jobs on High Point VDL.
Scott Brash takes third place in St Tropez
Scott Brash slotted Hello Vittoria into third in the 3* 1.50m at St Tropez – Gassin, France.
Thirty competitors tackled this two-phase track with Scott and the Kannan x Olisco 10-year-old finishing 1.52 seconds behind the winner, France’s Roger Yves Bost on Ballerine Du Vilpion.
Robert Whitaker jumps into second place in Italy
Robert Whitaker slipped Evert into second in Saturday’s 3* 1.45m on the Toscana Tour in Arezzo, Italy.
Forty-nine started over the two-phase track with Robert and Caroline Blatchford’s Amadeus x Indoctro 14-year-old only 0.11 seconds off the pace.
George Whitaker and Chris Smith pick up world ranking points in Belgium
George Whitaker guided Peanut into second in Friday’s 2* 1.45m at Azelhof Jumping in Belgium.
Eighty-one competitors came forward in this world ranking Grand Prix qualifier with George easing the Barrichello x Quasimodo Z 10-year-old into the runner-up spot 0.81 seconds behind the winner, Belgium’s Vincent Lambrecht on Catwalk Harry.
Chris Smith steered Messarado Blue into second spot in Saturday’s world ranking 1.45m and 2* Grand Prix qualifier. Seventy-three participated over this 12-fence speed track with Chris and the nine-year-old Messenger x Indorado nine-year-old finishing 2.42 seconds off the winning time set by Germany’s Hans-Dieter Dreher riding Prinz 1293.
Young rider Olivia Sponer got her week off to a good start with victory in the 55-strong 2* 1.40m two-phase, galloping the 15-year-old Crazy Girl (Corlensky G x Ard Vivendi) by 0.42 seconds.
Adrian Speight maintains his consistency in France
Adrian Speight produced consistent results in Le Mans, France, with Judith Whitham’s Millfield Baloney, taking two second places.
Runner-up in the early 1.45m Grand Prix qualifier as one of seven from an initial start list of 44, 1.78 seconds off the pace, the pair went on to take second in the 2* Grand Prix.
Fifty-one riders came forward over the world ranking 1.45m, the course reducing them to nine for the jump-off. Adrian and the game Balou Du Rouet x Kanudos 18-year-old supplied another clean round but missed out on victory by 0.98 seconds and again had to settle for second.
.jpg "Robert Whitaker and Vermento land the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup qualifier in Helsinki")
