Press release from World Equestrian Center - Ocala, edited by World of Showjumping

Fifty horse-and-rider combinations representing 12 nations came forward for Thursday’s CSI4* $200,000 MARS Equestrian Grand Prix qualifier, all hoping to secure a good position in Saturday night’s Grand Prix. After an 11-horse jump-off, it was last-to-go, world no. 5 Christian Kukuk (GER) who claimed victory by fractions of a second aboard Beerbaum Stables GmbH’s Viki van Gogh (Van Gogh x Now or Never M).

The technical 1.50m track, designed by 2024 Paris Olympic course designer Gregory Bodo (FRA) with assistance from Pieter Vitse (BEL), featured a tight time allowed and delicate lines throughout the course, with the final oxer proving influential. Only 11 combinations managed clear rounds within the time allowed to advance to the jump-off, and just four produced double-clear efforts.

Kukuk, who captured individual gold at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games aboard Checker 47, spoke highly of Bodo’s design. “When you know Gregory Bodo is around, you know the time allowed is always a challenge,” he said. “When I walked the course, I knew it was going to be quite a tough qualifier. It was very fair, but definitely tough. He knows exactly where to put the fences. It’s always on the delicate side, never really massive, so the horses don’t have to try their heart out; you can come to the finish line, and they still have a place to breathe. But you need really good control because he likes to have flowing distances. When I saw he was building this week, I knew my horses and I would learn something together.”

Jessica Springsteen (USA) was first to return in the jump-off aboard Cayman de Poteau Z (Cayado x Casall), but incurred two rails in 42.62 seconds. Lebanon’s Jad Dana laid down the first clear round in a blazing 37.65 seconds aboard the 12-year-old Belgian Sport Horse gelding Itchcock des Dames (Marius Claudius x Calvaro F.C.), putting pressure on the rest of the field.

World no. 3 Ben Maher (GBR) was the next athlete to find a clear effort, delivering an impressive round aboard his nine-year-old Zangersheide gelding Maddox vh Haringvliet Z (Monte Bellini x Ogano Sitte), stopping the clock in 37.91 seconds to slot just behind Dana.

Last to go, Kukuk knew exactly where he could make up ground. “One to two was a really long eight, or you could do nine if you turned a bit tighter,” he explained. “I got that line a little quiet in eight, and I think I was the fastest from two to three. Then I had a good shot to the next oxer and could do nine strides to the double and take a little time there because that was a challenge in the jump-off. The horses were getting a little flat coming into the vertical. Then it was just a quick rollback and eight strides home. I think I won the jump-off basically in the middle part, from two to three and three to four, I was probably faster than the others.”

Stopping the clock in 37.01 seconds, Kukuk and Viki van Gogh moved to the top of the leaderboard to take the win.

The nine-year-old Hanoverian mare has been part of Kukuk’s program for years, and he has long believed in her potential. “She came to our stable when she was five, so I could follow her from then,” he said. “I always liked her. She had something very special. She has a lot of blood, she’s strong, and she has her own way, she wants to go. It wasn’t always easy to keep her calm, but I’ve always liked that because that’s what you need when it gets tough. She’s super athletic, and I always had an eye on her. When she was seven, and I took over the ride, from the first day, she gave me that feeling I always saw in her. I really believe she’s a special one.”