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Kent Farrington and Gazelle leap to dramatic split-second victory in Madrid

Sunday, 21 May 2017
CSI5* LGCT Madrid 2017

Photo (c) Stefano Grasso/LGCT. Kent Farrington and Gazelle won the LGCT Grand Prix of Madrid. Photo (c) Stefano Grasso/LGCT.

World number one Kent Farrington (USA) thrilled thousands of spectators as 9 out of the top 10 riders in the world locked horns in Madrid for the fourth Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of the 2017 circuit. Fans were kept on the edge of their seats as the American rider and his horse Gazelle (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Indoctro) triumphed against a heavy-weight field, nailing the win by only 5 tenths of a second.

A thrilled Kent admitted he “won by a whisker”, as he paid respect to the extraordinary calibre of riders and horses that turned the competition into a power play of precision, bravery and pin-point timing in the Spanish capital. 

Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) continues his reign of the LGCT ranking lead, with the Italian star once again in an electric jump-off and keeping his points tally high. With a score of 133 overall, Lorenzo will have one eye over his shoulder, as Maikel van der Vlueten (NED) has closed the gap to the top now sitting just nine points behind on 124 overall after his third podium this season. Compatriot Harrie Smolders (NED) has leapfrogged up to third, with a collection of 86 points as the Tour-race continues. 

Course designer Santiago Varela Ullastres made full use of the galloping grass arena in his LGCT Grand Prix course, where gradient plays a big factor in the way the course is ridden. The triple combination towards the end of the course was formidable, with both parts a little on the short stride and the horses fixed on the in-gate and home. Following the first couple of riders, the time allowed was altered from 80 seconds to 78s, as 25 took to the track with high hopes of the Grand Prix win. 

The two former LGCT Grand Prix of Madrid winning combinations were the first to jump clear. Marcus Ehning (GER) with Pret a Tout (Hiram Chambertin x Stew Boy), and Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) and VDL Groep Verdi TN N.O.P. (Quidam de Revel x Landgraf I) put in foot perfect rounds, putting them in the mix for the jump-off. Both looked strong to re-take the Madrid title, with their horses visibly enjoying the arena. 

Qatar’s Bassem Hassan Mohammed (QAT) put in a phenomenal performance with Gunder (Thunder van de Zuuthoeve x Randel Z), and Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) proved his consistency with the expressive Armitages Boy (Armitage x Feo) also jumped clear, raising the temperature of the final yet to come. 

It was a five rider jump-off as the sun began it’s slow descent and the anticipation around the arena grew. The jump-off required full turbo charge from the world class combinations, featuring many of the same tricky fences such as the second part of the triple combination, and full height verticals. A galloping finish with seven strides to the final flier had the crowd on the edge of their seats, and daring those brave enough to take a stride out to soar on six. 

Marcus Ehning and Pret a Tout were the first to go, fully revved up to defend their 2016 LGCT Grand Prix of Madrid title. With a calm exterior and nerves of steel the top German rider kept up the gallop, with the large striding chestnut eating up the distances to set the bench mark at 45.68s. Former Madrid Grand Prix winners Maikel van der Vleuten and VDL Groep Verdi TN N.O.P. gave it their all - they had a scary touch of the vertical, but finished clear just fractions behind in 45.86s. 

The show ground went silent once more as world number one Kent Farrington and Gazelle entered the ring. The little horse jumped it’s heart out for the American, turning swiftly and leaping at the fences with a flat out gallop to the last. Shaving off fractions of a second, Kent guided the fiery horse to the final fence, and the crowd erupted in cheers as they pipped Marcus’ time by five tenths of a second to set the new time to beat at 45.18s. 

Bassem Hassan Mohammed and the huge striding Gunder rolled a pole, and then took out the penultimate vertical with a water tray dropping them down to fifth on eight faults. Last to go was LGCT ranking leader Lorenzo de Luca, who entered the arena with Armitages Boy looking like a force to be reckoned with. The pair were slower from the off, with Armitages Boy expressive with his hind legs, and bucking his way clear but slower in 50.59s overall. 

So it was Kent and the brave-hearted Gazelle who leapt to the win, with Marcus Ehning taking second and Maikel van der Vleuten in third. The Tour now looks to Hamburg next weekend, where round five promises further top class action and drama as the race for the title rockets up a gear. 

"It was an amazing competition here. A great city, a fantastic ring, big courses and tough competition. I really won by a whisker today, it was a coin toss who won. Both of these guys have won the Grand Prix before so I am glad they let me in the club! I’m thrilled. I think what I have today is years of work, great support and all my owners and really strong team of multiple horses. At the highest level it takes a big team of horses and I feel very fortunate," Kent Farrington said after his win. 

Marcus Ehning ended second and commented: "Last year I won here and this year second so I can’t be more pleased. If you have these guys behind you it can never be enough. I lost it a bit in front before the double but that happens in the jump off. Kent was a bit more aggressive in everything and he deserved to win here.”

"I have stayed quite consistent and I have a very nice group of horses at the moment so I have the possibility to swap a bit and hope for some nice results to come. I did not lose much time my turns went really well. The seven strides to the last were a bit too normal, my horse has a big stride, maybe another time I could leave a stride out but I am very pleased with the way he jumped today," said third placed Maikel van der Vleuten.

Lorenzo de Luca is in the lead of the overall ranking: "It is fantastic to jump all these Grand Prix and to be first is amazing. The best riders and horses in the world are here and to be still leading is a really good feeling and the fact that the horses are jumping fantastically is even better. My horse is so spectacular, fantastic."

 


Source: Press release from LGCT / Photo ©Stefano Grasso/LGCT



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