The first round of the Super Grand Prix delivered everything the circuit is known for: nerve-wracking excitement, breathtaking speed and unexpected twists and turns. In a field full of world-class combinations, it was the relatively inexperienced combination of Victor Bettendorf and Foxy de la Roque that exceeded all expectations and grabbed the lead with a flawless and lightning-fast lap. While established names like Max Kühner and Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann performed strongly, others had to pay a high price for small mistakes.
The first round of the prestigious Super Grand Prix provided spectacle, with Victor Bettendorf (LUX) and his nine-year-old mare Foxy de la Roque (Armitages Boy) the surprising frontrunners. The duo stayed clear and set the fastest lap with a time of 75.60 seconds, an impressive feat considering Foxy's limited experience at this level with only five 1m60 courses in her legs. Bettendorf, visibly pleased, finished with a broad smile.
In addition to Bettendorf, Max Kühner (AUT) and Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann (GER) were also clear, finishing second and third respectively after the first round. Kühner steered his experienced Elektric Blue P (Eldorado vd Zeshoek) in a controlled clear round and showed why he is currently sixth in the world rankings. Meyer-Zimmermann put in an excellent performance with Messi van 't Ruytershof (Plot Blue) in 80.38 seconds, just slightly faster than Gilles Thomas (BEL) and Ermitage Kalone (Catoki), who took fourth place with a very tight time of 80.71 seconds but a clear round.
Thomas showed that risk pays off: where Pieter Devos (BEL) on Casual DV Z (Cornet Obolensky) got a beam with similar tactics, Thomas kept his cool and stayed clear in the line toward the double, where only a few chose seven canter passes instead of eight.
Not everyone managed to go clear through the challenging course, however. Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) rode a lightning-fast round with Denver de Talma (Vigo Cece), but a mistake on the board hindered his chances, as did Abdel Saïd (BEL), just back after an ankle fracture, and Olivier Philippaerts (BEL).
Olympic Champion, Christian Kukuk (GER) was counting on the 10-year-old Just Be Gentle (Tyson), who was a bit underwhelmed in the line to the GCTV steeplechase and seemed to bolt from something. The pair still kicked it over the obstacle, but got the beam in the sand. “I could be very disappointed and see it as the end of the world, because I had great expectations. I don't blame my horse for anything, she was just very impressed, which she had some of the previous days. The rest of the course she felt fantastic. She's still green, she's only 10 and doesn't have that much experience under the LED lights. We jumped anyway and that shows her character. I would have been better off riding her an extra course here in Riyadh and not just once. That might have helped.”
There was a less fortunate round for Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) with Katanga v/h Dingeshof (Cardento), who, due to a misjudgment in the first line, came rather unhappily over the obstacle which resulted in a second fault a bit further down the track. The duo recovered well, but could not avoid the eight penalty points.
Overview top five after round 1
- Victor Bettendorf & Foxy de la Roque (0)
- Max Kühner & Elektric Blue P (0)
- Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann & Messi van 't Ruytershof (0)
- Gilles Thomas & Ermitage Kalone (0)
- Michael Duffy & Quirex (2)
With only four combinations clear and a challenging course, the second round promises to be at least as exciting. All eyes are on Bettendorf and Foxy, but with strong challengers like Kühner and Meyer-Zimmermann, the battle for the title is still wide open.
The first round of the prestigious Super Grand Prix provided spectacle, with Victor Bettendorf (LUX) and his nine-year-old mare Foxy de la Roque (Armitages Boy) the surprising frontrunners. The duo stayed clear and set the fastest lap with a time of 75.60 seconds, an impressive feat considering Foxy's limited experience at this level with only five 1m60 courses in her legs. Bettendorf, visibly pleased, finished with a broad smile.
In addition to Bettendorf, Max Kühner (AUT) and Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann (GER) were also clear, finishing second and third respectively after the first round. Kühner steered his experienced Elektric Blue P (Eldorado vd Zeshoek) in a controlled clear round and showed why he is currently sixth in the world rankings. Meyer-Zimmermann put in an excellent performance with Messi van 't Ruytershof (Plot Blue) in 80.38 seconds, just slightly faster than Gilles Thomas (BEL) and Ermitage Kalone (Catoki), who took fourth place with a very tight time of 80.71 seconds but a clear round.
Thomas showed that risk pays off: where Pieter Devos (BEL) on Casual DV Z (Cornet Obolensky) got a beam with similar tactics, Thomas kept his cool and stayed clear in the line toward the double, where only a few chose seven canter passes instead of eight.
Not everyone managed to go clear through the challenging course, however. Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) rode a lightning-fast round with Denver de Talma (Vigo Cece), but a mistake on the board hindered his chances, as did Abdel Saïd (BEL), just back after an ankle fracture, and Olivier Philippaerts (BEL).
Olympic Champion, Christian Kukuk (GER) was counting on the 10-year-old Just Be Gentle (Tyson), who was a bit underwhelmed in the line to the GCTV steeplechase and seemed to bolt from something. The pair still kicked it over the obstacle, but got the beam in the sand. “I could be very disappointed and see it as the end of the world, because I had great expectations. I don't blame my horse for anything, she was just very impressed, which she had some of the previous days. The rest of the course she felt fantastic. She's still green, she's only 10 and doesn't have that much experience under the LED lights. We jumped anyway and that shows her character. I would have been better off riding her an extra course here in Riyadh and not just once. That might have helped.”
There was a less fortunate round for Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) with Katanga v/h Dingeshof (Cardento), who, due to a misjudgment in the first line, came rather unhappily over the obstacle which resulted in a second fault a bit further down the track. The duo recovered well, but could not avoid the eight penalty points.
Overview top five after round 1
- Victor Bettendorf & Foxy de la Roque (0)
- Max Kühner & Elektric Blue P (0)
- Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann & Messi van 't Ruytershof (0)
- Gilles Thomas & Ermitage Kalone (0)
- Michael Duffy & Quirex (2)
With only four combinations clear and a challenging course, the second round promises to be at least as exciting. All eyes are on Bettendorf and Foxy, but with strong challengers like Kühner and Meyer-Zimmermann, the battle for the title is still wide open.