Edited press release from Longines Global Champions Tour
Christian Kukuk (GER) and the 11-year-old stallion Mumbai (Diamant de Semilly x Nabab de Reve) continued their flying form in Saturday’s CSI5* €153,000 Trofeo Banorte 1.55m jump-off class at the Longines Global Champions Tour of Mexico City.
The track set by Peter Grant (CAN) was a serious test with plenty of jumping efforts, but inviting fences and encouraging lines did little to deter the field of 31 riders that made the course look relatively comfortable with ten making it through the jump-off.
After contributing to Riesenbeck International powered by Kingsland’s win in the GCL team series on Friday, it was yet again Kukuk and Mumbai that stole the show – taking the win in the stunning grass arena at the Campo Marte. Just a second behind followed Yuri Mansur (BRA) and Miss Blue Mystic Rose (Chacco Blue x VDL Zirocco Blue), who had to settle for second place, while Laura Kraut (USA) and her 9-year-old Bisquetta (Bisquet Balou Vd Mispelaere x Takashi Van Berkenbroek) took the third place. Lillie Keenan (USA) and Fasther (Vigo D Arsouilles x Farmer) finished fourth, and Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) fifth aboard Dywis HH (Toulon x Corofino II).
A smiling Christian Kukuk told GCTV: "We won the team class yesterday and today this individual class so the weekend couldn’t be better at the moment. I took a big risk to the double in the jump-off, and I was really lucky I must say as I turned inside the Longines finishing timer but Mumbai tried his heart out for me. It was a fast jump-off! We are in the form of our life at the moment."