If anyone had been lulled into a state of false security by a couple of days of clear rounds and the beauty of their surroundings at La Mandria, Turin, Uliano Vezzani soon disposed them of that notion in the GCT Grand Prix of Italy.
The first round contained a vertical, oxer, vertical triple combination at fence 5. This ended the challenges of Kevin Staut (Sea Coast Silvana) and Ben Maher (Robin Hood W) among others. Then there was a tricky line from Fence 7 to 8, a double where Edwina Alexander (Cevo Itot du Chateau) was one of the victims. And just when the riders thought they were home a short distance to the last oxer saw the likes of Eric Lamaze (Atlete Van T’Heike) fault. But the eight clears included Jos Lansink (Valentina Van T’Heike), Rodrigo Pessoa (HH Rebozo), Jessica Kurten (Castle Forbes Libertina) and Meredith Michaels Beerbaum, back to her best after having a baby, on the equally brilliant Shutterfly.
Jos had been first to go and was the fast clear so had the advantage of going last in the second round. But there were 17 others to go before him over a changed course where once again a line including the double to a water tray fence caused the most problems. Harrie Smolders on yesterdays winner Exquis Walnut de Muze was the first in and his four fault round looked better and better as the phase progressed. He was rising steadily up the ranks until 8th to go Rolf Goran Bengsston put some pressure on the leaders with the first clear round. The Patrick McEntee was also clean over the fences but was left ruing two time penalties with Ever Mury Marais. Of those initially clear Penelope Leprevost and Leopold van Asten both faulted but Rodrigo Pessoa managed a second clear round and then Nick Skelton (Carlo) forced a jump off. They were joined by Marco Kutscher (Cash) and a jubilant Jessica Kurten. But there was drama to come when Meredith and Shutterfly got to the combination. Slightly off the first part, by the time he got to element C even Shutterfly could not get himself out of the trouble he was in and the horse stopped, depositing his rider unceremoniously onto the sand. Then Jos fell victim to the third fence, an oxer and the second part of the double and his chance was gone.
In the jump off Rodrigo was first into the arena and, like the next two riders, he knew last to go would be Jessica Kurten, never slow against the clock so he had to go for it. His time of 41.12 could clearly be beaten but the fences were all standing so the others would have no choice except to take it on. And Nick Skelton did. Setting Carlo alight he beat Rodrigo’s time by three seconds. 38.18 might have been enough to win in lesser company but Marco Kutscher and Cash had won the Grand Prix of Italy last year and on that occasion the geldings huge stride did enough without appearing to hurry and the same happened here. The clock stopped at 37.98 and when Jessica and Libertina lowered the first part of the double, it was all over and 100’000 Euro was his.
Earlier in the day Alvaro Miranda finally got himself to the top of the leader board after a series of improving placed results with AD Norson. He won the Premio Publitala with a time of 62.52. He was chased home by Kevin Staut whose Major de Coquerie was the only horse to leave all rails intact and get with two seconds of the winner. Lauren Hough was third on her Valencia winner Prezioso. ~ Lulu Kyriacou, GCT Press Agent
Quotes
Marco Kutscher – “Last week I thought I should be a gentleman and let the ladies go first but I was not so nice here with men to beat! This is a serious horse and I think I will concentrate on the GCT with him and if I get selected for WEG then so be it and if not, well, that is how it goes.”
Nick Skelton – “Carlo is only nine so I am very pleased with him but because of his age, I will not be aiming him at the World Championships this year. He will do the GCT shows and hopefuy be really ready for the big stuff in London 2012.”
Results
Class 5 GCT Grand Prix of Italy
1. Marco Kutscher (GER) Cash, ),0,0,0, 37.98, Euro 100’000
2. Nick Skelton (GBR) Carlo, 0,0,0, 38.18, Euro 65’000
3. Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) HH Rebozo, 0,0,0, 41.12, Euro 40’000
4. Jessica Kurten (IRE) Castle Forbes Libertina, 0,0,4, Euro 25’000
Class 4 Premio Publitalia
1. Alvaro de Miranda Neto (BRA) AD Norson, 0, 62.52, Euro 6600
2. Kevin Staut (FRA) Major de Coquerie , 0, 63.80, Euro 4250
3. Lauren Hough (USA) Prezioso, 0, 65.15, Euro 3050
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