Kutscher and Cornet’s Cristallo clinch victory ahead of Grand Prix

Germany’s Marco Kutscher and his formidable gelding Cornet’s Cristallo blasted away the opposition in a high adrenaline victory in Shanghai ahead of tomorrow’s Grand Prix battle. The fast pace and determination sets the scene for a real prize fight tomorrow.

Valiant spectators braved the heavy downpour determined to stay in their seats and watch the climax to the first big 5* class with a significant prize purse of $371,000.

The 1.50/1.55m competition on the opening day of the event culminated in a thrilling jump-off between 13 riders with plenty of calculated risk taking by some of the best in the world. First in the impressive sand arena, Doda de Miranda with AD Rahmannshof’s Bogeno, set a blistering pace which had the remainder of the field chasing him until the very last few to go.

The Brazilian rider watched every round avidly and his lead looked in jeopardy when Scott Brash and Hello Annie came within 0.2 seconds of his time. It was on a knife edge until the end as the last three riders to go knocked him off the top spot.

With the rain pouring down, the sport heated up, and Marc Houtzager on Sterrehof’s Uppity was the first to usurp Doda at the top of the leaderboard with a time of 37.82. Marc’s lead did not last long as Henrik von Eckermann followed him into the arena on the chestnut mare Gotha and immediately seized the lead in 37.33. But it was last to go, Marco Kutscher with Cornet’s Cristallo, who took the eventual pole position successfully executing all the necessary risks and crossing the finish line a whole second in front on 36.28.

The first class of the day, a CSI5* competition in two phases (1,45 m) was won by Kent Farrington (USA) aboard Blue Angel ahead of Marco Kutscher (GER) and Van Gogh and Pius Schwizer (SUI) with Dundee vd Dwerse Hagen.

RESULTS

Friday, 08.05.2015
01 – CSI5* Int. jumping competition in two phases 1.45 m
Competition counts for LONGINES RANKINGS
1. Blue Angel – Kent Farrington (USA) 0/32.80 Phase 2
2. Van Gogh – Marco Kutscher (GER) 0/33.33 Phase 2
3. Dundee vd Dwerse Hagen – Pius Schwizer (SUI) 0/33.67 Phase 2
4. Citizenguard Million Dreams – Constant Van Paesschen (BEL) 0/34.54 Phase 2
5. Sterrehof’s Bylou – Marc Houtzager (NED) 0/34.75 Phase 2
6. Egano van het Slogenhof – Gregory Wathelet (BEL) 0/34.76 Phase 2
7. Regina Z – Harrie Smolders (NED) 0/37.71 Phase 2
8. Ruby de la Fosse – Alexis Borrin (FRA) 0/38.31 Phase 2
9. Pironella – Daniel Deusser (GER) 0/42.43 Phase 2
10.Sansibar – Kamal Abdullah Bahamdan (KSA) 0/44.15 Phase 2
11.Qurack de Falaise H D C – Kevin Staut (FRA) 0/44.26 Phase 2
12.Vienna Olympic – Shk. Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani (QAT) 0/45.96 Phase 2

02 – CSI5* Int. jumping competition with jump-off 1.50 m
Competition counts for LONGINES RANKINGS
1. Cornet’s Cristallo – Marco Kutscher (GER) 0/36.28 i.St.
2. Gotha FRH – Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) 0/37.33 i.St.
3. Sterrehof’s Uppity – Marc Houtzager (NED) 0/37.82 i.St.
4. AD Rahmannshof’s Bogeno – Doda de Miranda (BRA) 0/38.23 i.St.
5. Hello Annie – Scott Brash (GBR) 0/38.43 i.St.
6. Caretina de Joter – Pius Schwizer (SUI) 0/40.28 i.St.
7. Stardust Quinhon – Simon Delestre (FRA) 0/40.88 i.St.
8. Dieudonne de Guldenboom – Jane Richard Philips (SUI) 0/41.21 i.St.
9. Zinedine – Ludger Beerbaum (GER) 0/41.89 i.St.
10.Anyway II – Shk. Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani (QAT) 4/40.07 i.St.
11.Connery – Luca Maria Moneta (ITA) 4/40.73 i.St.
12.Viking – Michael Whitaker (GBR) 8/38.97 i.St.

From 17 to 20 September the Longines Global Champions Tour is coming to Vienna again! Tickets for the VIENNA MASTERS are already available on the eventwebsite.

Source: Press release