Michael Whitaker and Viking V Win Global Champions Tour Grand Prix, Madrid
Saturday 04 May 2013
Michael Whitaker from Nottingham took control of a power-packed jump off on his own 11 year-old chesnut gelding Viking V in the first Grand Prix of the Longines Global Champions Tour 2013 by being the only combination to jump three clear rounds. The high calibre jump off was destined to be quick and competitive, with strong combinations such as Richard Spooner with Cristallo, Harrie Smolders with Exquis Walnut de Muze and Laura Kraut with Jubilee d’Ouilly jumping double clear.
First Round
The first round saw 50 combinations, including some of the very best in the sport. However, despite plenty of talent in the first half of the class, spectators and riders alike had to wait some time for the first clear round of the evening.
Plenty of top combinations jumped the first round clear, but failed to finish within the time allowed. Brazil’s Alvaro de Miranda, riding his Olympic mount AD Rahmannshof’s Bogeno, delivered the first clear.
Olympic gold medal Champion Steve Guerdat had the first fence down on his graceful grey mare Nasa. His fast time ensured a strong chance he would remain in the top eighteen and comeback for the second round for Switzerland. Nick Skelton and Beverley Widdowsons bay stallion Big Star delivered a flawless first round, earning their place in the second round. After round one 18 combinations were set to come back for the second round.
Second Round
Rider’s lined up beneath the towering Longines pillars, to walk the second round course, which would prove to be more challenging and only slightly shorter.
Last year’s winning combination of the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi, Katharina Offel and Fidji Island, were the first to enter the ring and left with 8 faults making a total of 12. Spain’s Sergio Alvarez Moya, hugely popular with the home crowd, also exited the Grand Prix with a total of 12 faults. It was down to the masterful German technician Marcus Ehning to deliver the first clear of the second round. Riding his experienced and notable 16 year old mare Noltes Kuchengirl, Marcus delivered a textbook round. Longines Global Champions Tour patroness Athina Onassis de Miranda was next with her very-capable grey mare Camille Z. The pair, which look to be a growing combination for the season, earned four faults bringing her total over two rounds to six.
Kamal Bahamdan and Noblesse des Tess earned wonderful applause from the huge Madrid crowd, as they entered the ring but earned 9 faults with two rails and one time fault.
American speed demon Richard Spooner rode a fantastic first double clear round of the evening with his athletic bay gelding Cristallo. Pius Schwizer and Powerplay would match that score for Switzerland as well as Ireland’s Denis Lynch and Abbervail van het Dingeshof. France’s leading lady rider, Penelope Leprevost was sure to earn a double clear round with her chestnut stallion Topinambour but unfortunately the French combination earned a four fault score instead. The Netherland’s Harrie Smolders rode a wonderfully smooth round aboard his careful mare Exquis Walnut de Muze and Michael Whitaker came through clear to ensure a super fast jump off.
Top-performing Longines Global Champions Tour rider Alvaro de Miranda ensured Brazil joined Holland, Great Britain and the USA in the jump off with a breezy clear round aboard Bogeno. A touch at the rails meant 4faults for Nick and Big Star disappointingly meaning they wouldn’t make it through to the third round alongside Michael. However, the last ladies of the second round, Luciana Diniz and Laura Kraut guaranteed more riders in the jump off as they both delivered strong, effortless rounds.
Jump off
Set to see eight horse and rider combinations in the jump off. Richard Spooner and Cristallo were the first to jump off and they looked as though they intended to set a strong time. But alas, a fence down in the double combination would mean a 4 fault score for the “Master of Faster”. Pius Schwizer and Powerplay also failed to keep all the rails up. Ireland’s Denis Lynch was the third rider to enter the Grand Prix arena for the jump off and despite earning a very fast time of 48.54 seconds, Abbervail would also knock a single fence down for a frustrating four faults. Dutchman Harrie Smolders picked up a strong pace with his mare Exquis Walnut de Muze but the two were unable to jump clear.
So it was down to Michael Whitaker who showed the crown how it’s done with Viking. Consolidating a strong time of 49.53 seconds, Michael landed the lead with only three more riders to go. Leading Brazilian rider Doda Miranda had 4 faults but earned a very fast time of 47.66 seconds placing him in second place. Luciana and Winningmood looked to be in excellent position, but the combination knocked down the last fence, a wide Longines oxer, and finished with a time of 50.34 seconds.
Only one horse and one rider left. Laura Kraut and Jubilee d’Ouilly entered the ring to applause and then a hush descended on the arena. Would the first leg of the 2013 Longines Global Champions Tour season see a British win or an American win? Laura picked up a quick pace to set the tone for her clear ambitions; she wanted to win. But a fence down early on left Michael as the only rider with a fault-free jump off - giving him a ranking start to the season.
After his €94,050 win Whitaker said of Viking: “He is always knocking on the door of the big wins, so it is the first time he has won. It’s good for me and it is good for the horse as well.” Whitaker, on his champion gelding Viking, was the only rider out of a 48-strong start list to ride three clear rounds, sealing victory in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Madrid presented by Volvo.
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