Latest news from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Taloubet Z Takes The Honours

The second class of the evening carried a hefty 125'000 Euro total prize money and the 44 competitors were faced with a 1.55 jump off class to decide who got the cash. Uliano Verzanni may have been slightly kinder than usual although the double at six caused enough trouble, as fifteen horses got through to the jump off. The winner would take home 31'250 Euro and Bernardo Alves and Bridget set off looking quite determined to keep the money in Brazil. 40.72 looked good for the few minutes until Lauren Hough and Prezioso took it away from them but it was Simon Delestre who really set the contest alight. Sixth to go in the jump off he was the first rider to turn inside a fence from the double at four to the next oxer and this impossible looking turn drew gasps and then whistles and cheers of encouragement at every fence but to a huge groan from a crowd who clearly appreciate audacity the last fence fell but he was two seconds faster. For the remaining nine riders the choice then had to be to dare or not to dare to follow the Frenchman's lead as Lauren could be beaten for time if anyone was brave enough. Jeroen Dubbeldam, dared on BMC Van Grunsven Simon and succeeded to leave all rails intact in 38.06 and it really did not look if that could be bettered. But Christian Alhmann, getting better and better on Taloubet Z everytime the horse appears at the GCT, could not have ridden a tighter line, almost clipping the fence wings and he beat the Dutchman by a hefty one and a half seconds! 36.51 was very impressive and but Christian was modest in his moment of triumph. “I just planned to go as fast as possible, that's all” he said!