Richard Vogel and Cloudio second in the 116,100$ WEF Challenge Cup in Wellington

Poor Jessica Kürten. After Ireland’s team manager had to watch Richard Vogel and Cloudio make a significant contribution to the German victory over their home country at the League of Nations stage in Ocala last week, she had to tremble again today in her capacity as commentator in Wellington.

The Adequan WEF Challenge Cup over two rounds was on the program here today, also qualifying for the Grand Prix. The best twelve pairs from the round qualified for the round against the clock. There were considerably more clear rounds, 25 in total, plus two pairs with time faults. However, this was not because the jumping was too easy, assured Jessica Kürten. “The horses are simply in top form,” explained the former top rider.

But not all of them. Right at the start of the course, Ben Maher’s Dallas Vegas Batilly developed a strong aversion to a steep jump in US Equestrian colors, with oversized US stars painted on the catch stands. She refused once, Maher started again. He applied pressure, but again the mare pulled the brakes. Not so her rider. He shot over her head, but kept a firm grip on the reins and took the bridle with him on his way to the ground. Dallas Vega’s Batilly made no attempt to run away. She waited calmly until her two-legged sport partner had picked himself up again, allowed himself to be bridled and led out of the ring. It even happens to Olympic champions.

Bird in shape

Things went much better for Richard Vogel and Cloudio. In typical style, the European champion steered his Nations’ Cup winner safely, smoothly, stylishly and on the shortest routes over the course. In the end, he was three seconds faster than everyone else, without it looking as if he had to ask his gray once.

However, this only helped him insofar as he was the last starter in round two against the clock. Five of the qualified pairs had withdrawn from this round in order to spare their horses for the big challenge on Saturday. The rest made a lot of mistakes.

By the time it was Vogel’s turn, only one pair had stayed clear, much to the delight of commentator Kürten: her anchorman in the team, Shane Sweetnam on his ten-year-old youngster Koriaan van Klapscheut Z. And at 39.71 seconds, the pair were also lightning fast. But as Jessica Kürten said: “You don’t want to have Richard Vogel behind you in the jump-off.”

In fact, it initially looked as if Vogel and his Holsteiner gray would be faster than the Irish-Belgian duo. But Vogel did not risk everything this time and although he remained clear, his time of 40.53 seconds was slower than Sweetnam, who came second. However, he would have won the style prize if there had been one.

Third place went to Daniel Bluman for Israel on Hummer Z with the fastest four-fault round in 39.55 seconds.

Kukuk and Dittmer

Not only Richard Kukuk, but also two of his colleagues from the victorious Ocala team were there today. Rene Dittmer relied on his World Cup hopeful Cody and Christian Kukuk, who could win the Rolex Grand Prix on Saturday for the third time in a row, put his faith in one of his new additions today, Fantasia de Wy. Both pairs ended up with four faults.

You can find all the results here.