Michael Whitaker and Viking 3rd in Shanghai Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix
Sunday 10 May 2015
Michael Whitaker and the 13 year-old chestnut gelding Viking V finished 3rd in the Shanghai leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour yesterday. The honours went to Dutchman Harrie Smolders and his 15-year-old bay mare Regina Z whom just couldn't be caught on time.
The pace was electric at the climax of the $485,000 Grand Prix as eight riders won through to the jump off in the Chinese leg of the 2015 championship series.
It was Harrie however who managed to beat off tough challenges from speed masters Pius Schwizer and Michael Whitaker to emerge victorious scooping $160,000 in prize money and 40 valuable ranking points as winner. It was his first ever Grand Prix win and he said "it's a very special moment for me. To win at a Global Champions Tour Grand Prix with her is really great."
World No.1 rider Scott Brash MBE from Peebleshire remains on top of the overall season ranking stretching his lead to 10 points ahead of Luciana Diniz. As the current championship title holder for the second year running this holds him in good stead going forward for the 2015 championships.
The jump off also included last year’s Shanghai Grand Prix winner Pieter Devos, Olympic bronze medallist Kamal Bahamdan of Saudi Arabia,Taizo Sugitani of Japan and young Jessica Mendoza of Great Britain.
There was a lively social scene at the impressive show ground as VIP guests arrived in chic outfits and hats more reminiscent of Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot. Thousands of enthusiastic Chinese spectators whooped and gasped as they watched in awe of the world’s top international sport horses.
Earlier in the day champion US rider Kent Farrington and bay mare Waomi won an emphatic victory ahead of the Grand Prix, beating a world class field. It was Kent's second win in Shanghai after he took the honours in the first 5* on Friday on Blue Angel.
The first round of today's Grand Prix by course designer Uliano Vezzani saw plenty of confident clear rounds, 13 in total, with John Whitaker and Luca Moneta both missing out with 1 time penalty. Only the three fastest on four faults were able to squeeze into the second round with Daniel Deusser, Ludger Beerbaum, Steve Guerdat and Kent Farrington among the casualties.
The second round in front of packed grandstands raised the stakes and riders including Ben Maher, Sheikh Ali Al Thani and Gregory Wathelet unable to capitalise on their clear round status. Luciana Diniz, back in action on Lennox, had an agonising moment at the second to last fence with a rail down putting her out of the jump off. Pius Schwizer and his mount Caretina de Joter proved an impressive combination with a double clear and GB rider, 19 year-old Jessica Mendoza on Spirit also delivered a superb double clear to finish in 6th place having stopped the clock just under a second behind Scott who took 5th.
There were excited cheers as Japanese rider Taizo Sugitani and his bay 16-year-old Avenzio 3 delivered an impressive double clear for Asia - and a few bucks and kicks to the delight of the fans. Pieter Devos, riding Candy, made sure of a place in the jump off setting is sights on a Shanghai double.
Scott remains on great form and pulled of a double clear on Hello M'Lady, owned by Lady Pauline Kirkham and Lady Pauline Harris as did Michael and Viking with their superb double clear to put them high up in the prize money.
The jump off saw bitter disappointment for Pieter Devos who clocked up four faults. But the other seven riders all delivered triple clears. It came down to a ferocious speed battle after Swiss rider Pius Schwizer set a lead time of 34.20. Harrie Smolders was always going to be a threat with Regina Z and stopping the clock at 33.57 Michael Whitaker and Viking, who were last to go just could not beat their time.
With Scott Brash still on top of the ranking, the Tour moves to Hamburg, Germany for the 5th leg of the championship race next weekend.
For full results please click on the following link: http://www.globalchampionstour.com/events/2015/shanghai/results/1249/class-04-shanghai-2015-csi5-160-m/
