Global Champions Tour: Monaco Weekend

Source/photo: press release

Marco Kutscher Leads the Way

Marco Kutscher, current leader of the Global Champions Tour rankings, won

Saturday's opening class, the Prix Massimo Dutti, by beating 16 others in the jump off. Luckily, the original time allowed was a tight one of 64 seconds or the jump off riders would have numbered over twenty!

Eight horses had jumped before Marco entered on Gut Neuenhofs Lea and none had done better than Edwina Alexander, who despite missing a turn slightly, had come home in 44.19. Others had been quicker but this was the sort of jump off course that had no places to make a really clever turn, you just had to gallop. Consequently several rails fell when horses got a little flat.

There were still seven left to go when Marco and his relatively new ride, nine year old mare Gut Neuenhofs Lea came in and boldly took six seconds off the Australian's time. Eric Van der Vleuten with the VDL Groep's Cannelina managed to get in front of Edwina to take second in 41.72 but the German rider's time of 38.20 was the clear winner.

The second class was a winning round jump off class which meant the best ten rounds would jump off. Meredith Michaels Berbaum made her first visit to the Monte Carlo show a wining one when she steered Checkmate to a time of 35.21 and just snatched the lead from Gianni Govoni. The Italian was riding his latest acquisition Little Tinka, only recently bought from British international rider Mandy Goosen. “He is a very good English horse” laughed Gianni, who did not seem to be too dismayed with the runner up spot. Bernardo Alves, through from the first round as a fast four faulter, was third on Bridget in 35.93.

Pro rider Lauren Hough, riding Prezioso S, teamed up with Amateur rider, Bart Soetaers riding Nightlover won the Pro-Am Challenge cup by a comfortable margin. Full results of the class can be found here.

Brazilians Prevail

It was a Brazilian 1-2 in the warm up class for today's Grand Prix of Monaco in Monte Carlo. With 12 through to the jump off the winner was always going to have to hustle to take the red ribbon and there would not be many men more capable than Rodrigo Pessoa of doing just that.

Edwina Alexander collected her thrid placing out of three rides on Watch Me de Reve Bovenhoekshof at this show when she set a standard of 37.74 which was good enough for eventual fourth but Alvaro De Miranda Neto with his super speed horse AD Norson took two seconds off her time. 35.3 looked unbeatable until Rodrigo, next to go, made a turn into the fourth that almost defied the laws of physics and clipped nearly another second off. the remaining riders then had to chase his time of 34.79.

Billy Twomey was best of the rest in 36.52 which although not enough to win, netted the Irishman his second third prize of the week with Tackeray. Not a bad result considering Billy has only had the horse ten days!

More Brazilian Celebration

After their success this morning there was no stopping the Brazilian riders as Bernardo Alves won the Grand Prix of Monaco on Bridgit. He won after a six horse jump off which included Meredith Michaels Beerbaum (4th) on Shutterfly, Jos Lansink on Valentina Van T'Heike (3rd) and Jessica Kurten (2nd) on Castle Forbes Libertina. After recieving his prize from Princess Caroline of Monaco and her daughter Charlotte Casiraghi, Bernado said Bridgit is the best he has ever ridden.