The world’s best showjumping athletes were once again showcased at the Longines Masters of New York in the $60,000 Masters One Kingsland 1.45m on Saturday. Dutchman Harrie Smolders (NED), who is poised to ascend to the number one position in the Longines World Rankings, topped a six-horse jump-off to take the win.
Riding the 13-year-old Holsteiner stallion Capital Colnardo (Colman x Coronado) for owner Copernicus Stables, Smolders took charge of the jump-off by blazing around the shortened jump-off track in a time of 33.12 seconds, overtaking the lead from Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA), who had stopped the clock in 34.05 seconds aboard the nine-year-old Oldenburg stallion Chalou (Chacco Blue x Baloubet du Rouet). Edward Levy (FRA) took third position on the podium riding Rafale d’Hyverniere (Chef Rouge x Le Plantero) after posting a clear jump-off performance in a time of 34.84 seconds.
“It was quite a good class with only six clears,” said Smolders of the Masters One 1.45 competition presented by leading European apparel company, Kingsland. “(Course designer) Louis Konickx did a good job; it was quite delicate. It was not very big, but still tough in enough to jump. The time was perfectly set. In the jump-off, there were very fast ones straight away. I saw Emanuele Guadiano and thought he had a good pace; into the double combination he could have gone maybe a little faster. That is the only place he left a little gap, and that is where I tried to beat him.”
Of his appearance in the inaugural Longines Masters of New York, which joins Paris and Hong Kong in the series, Smolders noted, “It is always a high-standard event, very exclusive with high quality service. We are always happy to come to the Longines Masters anywhere in the world!”
Source: Press release from Jump Media // Picture © Sportfot