Course designer Leopoldo Palacios’s (VEN) course comprised 13 obstacles for 16 efforts, including three double combinations. With 85 seconds of time allowed for the first round, the course proved to be difficult for the thirty-three registered duos. The last combination of two verticals proved especially daunting.
Only seven pairs qualified for the second round: young Canadian Ali Ramsay, with Hermelien VD Hooghoeve, Julia Madigan with Farfelu du Printemps (Action-Breaker x Darco) and Jennifer Serek on her two mounts, DHI Zulu (Zapatero x Tolan R) and Wicked (Eurocommerce Berlin x Diamant de Semilly)Â respectively, Colombian riders Carlos Ramirez on Happy Wandor Vant Roosakker (Wandor van de Mispelaere x Cento) and Juan Manuel Gallego on Coulash Van de Broy Z (Cadence VT Gelutt x Lys De Darmen), as well as American rider Nicholas Dello Joio with Contiki (Contendro I x Calido).
Carlos Ramirez establishes the time to beat at 46.18 seconds, with a perfect second round on his stallion Happy Wandor Vant Roosakker. Young rider Ali Ramsay, coached by Olympic rider Jill Henselwood, takes the lead with an impeccable course in under 43 seconds. Last on the course, Nicholas Dello Joio (USA) and his gelding Contiki come out strong, but the chronometer stops a few tenths of a second behind Ali Ramsay’s.
