Flying Dutchman claims victory
Print Edition
DUTCHMAN Harrie Smolders and his super-fast 15-year-old bay mare Regina Z blazed to victory at the Longines Global Champions Tour Shanghai Grand Prix yesterday.
The pace was electric at the climax of the US$485,000 Grand Prix as eight riders won through to the jump-off in the Chinese leg of the 2015 championship series in the Pudong New Area.
Smolders beat off tough challenges from Swiss Pius Schwizer and Michael Whitaker of Britain to win US$160,000 in prize money plus 40 ranking points. Scott Brash remains on top of the overall season ranking, stretching his lead to 10 points ahead of Luciana Diniz of Portugal.
The jump-off also included last year’s defending champion Pieter Devos of Belgium, Olympic bronze medalist Kamal Bahamdan of Saudi Arabia, Taizo Sugitani of Japan and young Jessica Mendoza of Britain.
The first round by course designer Uliano Vezzani saw plenty of confident clear rounds, though Daniel Deusser, Ludger Beerbaum, Steve Guerdat and Kent Farrington were among the casualties. The second round raised the stakes and riders, including Ben Maher, Sheikh Ali al-Thani and Gregory Wathelet, failed to capitalize on their clear round status.
Sugitani and his bay 16-year-old gelding Avenzio 3 delivered an impressive double clear for Asia. Devos, riding Candy, made sure of a place in the jump-off setting his sights on a Shanghai double.
But the jump-off saw bitter disappointment for the defending champion, who clocked up four faults. The other seven riders, however, all delivered triple clears. It came down to a ferocious speed battle after Schwizer set a lead time of 34.20. Smolders and his Regina Z then gave all they had and managed to stop the clock at 33.57. Whitaker and Viking were last to go but could not beat Smolders’ time.
“It’s a very special moment for me,‚“ said Smolders. “I have a fantastic partnership with my mare Regina as I have ridden her for five years already. It’s the first time we have won a five-star Grand Prix and to win a Global Champions Tour Grand Prix with her is really great.”
With Briton Brash still on top of the ranking, the Tour moves to Hamburg, Germany, for the fifth leg of the championship race next weekend.
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