Release date: 04/07/2010 |
The Euro100'000 to the winner Grand Prix of Portugal, presented by the City Council of Cascais and Estoril Turismo, began with an immediate clear round from Azerbaijan's Patrick McEntee but if anyone was lulled into a state of security by this innocuous start they were soon disabused of the notion. The first round course contained open water, two doubles and a tricky viaduct wall which by the end of the first round had produced 16 clear rounds. Although Jessica Kurten (Castle Forbes Libertina), Kevin Staut (Le Prestige St Lois) and Laura Kraut (Cedric) were among recent GP prize winners who did not make the cut, there were plenty of big names who did including Jos Lansink, Richard Spooner and Marcus Ehning as well as Tour leader and Turin winner Marco Kutsher.
In the second round the last fence, the GCT Planks, stopped Marcus Ehning(Plot Blue) and Richard Spooner (Cristallo) and to the surprise of the audience it was Azerbaijans Jamal Rahimov (Aramis) who was the first to go double clear and his countryman Patrick McEntee (Ever Mury Marais) who forced the jump off! They were soon joined by four riders who only need to be introduce by their first names to identify them to the showjumping world, they are so renowned, Marco, Jos, Christian and Meredith. Both the eastern European riders had rails in the against the clock round, as did Christian Alhmann but the latter who was well placed on Taloubet in Monaco wil not be too disappointed with how he is coming along on a relatively new ride. Marco Kutscher and Cash were the first to go clear again but seemed not to be going too fast, which is usual with the horse's giant stride and 45.82 was respectable enough so that Jos (Cavalor Valentina van T'Heike) made no effort to catch him. The World Champion crossed the line in sedate 51.82. That left the rider who had been fastest in the second round to see if Marco Kutscher could be prevented from winning another GCT Grand Prix. And to give him credit, Checkmate, the horse who lives in the shadow of Shutterfly could not have jumped a more perfect round to bring his clearly delighted rider home penalty free in 44.11.
Meredith- “This is my biggest win since I had my baby and I am thrilled as it is so important having missed so much training and competing. Do I ride any different since I had her, no I don't think I do.”
Marco Kutsher- “Most definitely not!” (refering to Meredith's comment)
Jos Lansink- There is still a way to go to Rio so it is not over, I may catch Marco yet.”
Duarte Guedes- (Show organiser) “We like to run the CSI 1* for children along with GCT because, as with everyone, the young people are the future and it is a great opportunity and inspiration for them to ride side by side with their idols.”
