Release date: 13/08/2011 |    

Italian course designer Uliano Venazzi presented a creative track for the 5* Medium Tour one round against the clock. The first double combination at the 5th fence presented an oxer one stride to vertical followed by a 5 strides on a curve to a bigger oxer.

The ride then turned across the opposing diagonal to another double consisting of a vertical one stride to oxer. Two very wide oxers each set in open space concluded the course.

UAE rider Sheikh Shakhboot put in a tidy quick effort with Vitesse Greenfield early in the class (54.11) as did Eric Lamaze (CAN) riding Coriana van Klapsheut (54.07).

Leopold van Asten (NED), who has consistently won events at prior GCT events this year with VDL Groep Amelie, showed a fast set of heels once again today posting 52.69 seconds.

These riders, however, were relegated to minor placings as some very fast combinations set alight on course.

Guy Williams (GBR) out on Erik Laenen’s Titus cut out a stride after the first double down the line to fence 6 and scooted across the arena to the second double.  He took the inside option to the last and was home in 50.83 seconds.

Pius Scwhizer (SUI) and Ulysee (above) are a very fast combination but their attempt resulted in a slower time of 51.75 seconds that eventually saw them third.

Never one to pull rein Frenchman Roger-Yves Bost (below) looked determined before he and the bay mare Nikyta D’Elle crossed the start line yet they just missed the mark by .38 coming home in 51.21 seconds to be runner-up.

“The track was a very proper speed course, “ said Guy, “The only way to win this was to cut strides out.  You still had to respect the course as it was fairly big and needed to be carful with the jumping and you couldn’t really go full bore.”

He believes he won the class early in the piece. “I did one less stride between 5 and 6 as he is a big striding horse.  To be honest he is a step down from his usual competitions as he has been in Nations Cups and other Grand Prix’s.”