Mares and Marcus Rule in Rio

  • Save
Marcus Ehning. All photos by Lulu Kyriacou

Tonight’s two part class in Rio was a glowing tribute to mares as they filled the top four places in a fourteen horse jump off. The Prix Bradesco was a winning round class so the best 20% went through to the second round against the clock where all of them started on zero. There was another 125’000 in total prize money and this class was open to the national riders as well as the GCT ones so sixty horses were originally in the field.

The second phase later that evening was diminished by one when Ellen Whitaker was taken ill and could not jump off. Phillip Weishaupt started the ball rolling on dark bay Souvenir 29 and the pair set an excellent standard of 40.95. It did not like he had left much room for maneuver either. Billy Twomey on another mare Tinka’s Serenade was first to get past the German combination by just two tenths of a second, and then Roger Yves Bost, next in on his young mare Nifrane de Kreisker, removed a stride coming to the last and clipped a second off the Irishman’s time. This was looking unbeatable but you can never say never when the last to jump is Marcus Ehning. Riding his Sandro Boy sired Sabrina, a daring turn to the second last had the desired effect and his time of 39.63 was enough to give him another win on a mare who has barely been unplaced this season.

  • Save
Roger Yves Bost

The Global Champions Tour continues tomorrow with the Grand Prix and the final chance for riders to win points towards their GCT ranking and a share of the One Million Euro Bonus. Currently being led by Germany’s Marco Kutscher (who will jump Catoki) he is being closely pursued by Marcus Ehning and Jos Lansink who will jump Noltes Kutchen Girl and Spender respectively. Please see the GCT website at www.globalchampionstour.com for details of tonight’s class and tomorrow’s schedule including the times of the live broadcast on Eurosport.

Result

Class 3 – Prix Bradesco

1.     Marcus Ehning (GER) Sabrina 327, 0,0, 39.63, Euro 31’250

2.     Roger Yves Bost (FRA) Nifrane de Kreisker, 0,0, 39.96, Euro 25’000

3.     Billy Twomey (IRE) Tinka’s Seranade, 0,0, 40.73, Euro18’750

4.     Phillip Weishaupt (GER) Souvenir 29, 0,0, 40.95, Euro 12’500

Quotes

Marcus Ehning – “I know my mare is fast but I was also lucky to be last to go so I could see a few jump first. I didn’t get the best stride into five but she took care of it and I could not be happier with her. She is very sensitive and like all women, never easy, but I think I have found the way with her now! I will let her rest tomorrow and ride Noltes Kutchen Girl in the Grand Prix.”

Roger Yves Bost – “Usually, I am much faster on Nifrane; she is a very good horse, but today I was just a bit wide at one fence and lost time. It seemed faster to me!”

  • Save
Billy Twomey

Billy Twomey – “This show has been just about perfect so far, except I didn’t go fast enough tonight! Good organisation, fantastic surface and good hotel. I think the only thing I would like for next year is a helicopter shuttle to the show ground. As for Tinka’s Serenade, she is super consistent; she has barely had a rail all season and has jumped clear in several Top League Nations Cups as well.”

Lulu Kyriacou

GCT Press Agent

Leave a Reply