As the penultimate leg of the 2016 Longines Global Champions Tour season gets underway, the world’s top horses have this evening successfully completed the vet check ahead of tomorrow’s first CSI5* competition. Many of the stars of show jumping have descended to Vienna, with top international riders bringing their top Grand Prix horses to this weekend’s high profile event. LGCT Ranking leader Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE) brings the formidable Casall ASK, the stallion with which he has won two Grand Prix events with this season so far. The pair have an unrivalled record, with Casall jumping clear with a 75% strike rate in LGCT events since 2011. Rolf also brings Unita ASK, his Rio Olympic contender, with the mare another from his top string of horses. Championship rival Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) will compete with her fiery mare Caretina de Joter, and fourth place challenger Bertram Allen (IRL) will compete with his expressive young stallion Hector van d’Abdijhoeve. Ludger Beerbaum (GER) has once again brought his top mare, Chiara, while compatriots Daniel Deusser (GER) brings his top horse, First Class van Eeckelghem, with whom he secured team bronze at the Olympics with, and Marcus Ehning will compete with Comme il faut and Funky Fred. Marco Kutscher (GER) will compete with his Grand Prix winning stallion Van Gogh, and John Whitaker (GBR) brings top stallion Argento. Last year’s winners will also be back in action, with Luciana Diniz (POR) competing with her striking grey stallionWinningmood. Scott Brash (GBR) brings two of his top horses, with Hello M’Lady back in action for this weekend and his Cannes Grand Prix winning horse Hello Forever competing in Vienna. Harrie Smolders (NED) will ride his Rome Grand Prix winning stallion, Don VHP Z and compatriot Maikel van der Vleuten will ride with VDL Groep Verdi TN N.O.P as well as VDL Groep Quatro. With the riders using the final two events to cement their position up and down the rankings, this weekend’s Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Vienna presented by LGT Private Banking is set to be another thrilling competition of high octane action. Photo: LGCT / Stefano Grasso
As the penultimate leg of the 2016 Longines Global Champions Tour season gets underway, the world’s top horses have this evening successfully completed the vet check ahead of tomorrow’s first CSI5* competition. Many of the stars of show jumping have descended to Vienna, with top international riders bringing their top Grand Prix horses to this weekend’s high profile event. LGCT Ranking leader Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE) brings the formidable Casall ASK, the stallion with which he has won two Grand Prix events with this season so far. The pair have an unrivalled record, with Casall jumping clear with a 75% strike rate in LGCT events since 2011. Rolf also brings Unita ASK, his Rio Olympic contender, with the mare another from his top string of horses. Championship rival Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) will compete with her fiery mare Caretina de Joter, and fourth place challenger Bertram Allen (IRL) will compete with his expressive young stallion Hector van d’Abdijhoeve. Ludger Beerbaum (GER) has once again brought his top mare, Chiara, while compatriots Daniel Deusser (GER) brings his top horse, First Class van Eeckelghem, with whom he secured team bronze at the Olympics with, and Marcus Ehning will compete with Comme il faut and Funky Fred. Marco Kutscher (GER) will compete with his Grand Prix winning stallion Van Gogh, and John Whitaker (GBR) brings top stallion Argento. Last year’s winners will also be back in action, with Luciana Diniz (POR) competing with her striking grey stallionWinningmood. Scott Brash (GBR) brings two of his top horses, with Hello M’Lady back in action for this weekend and his Cannes Grand Prix winning horse Hello Forever competing in Vienna. Harrie Smolders (NED) will ride his Rome Grand Prix winning stallion, Don VHP Z and compatriot Maikel van der Vleuten will ride with VDL Groep Verdi TN N.O.P as well as VDL Groep Quatro. With the riders using the final two events to cement their position up and down the rankings, this weekend’s Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Vienna presented by LGT Private Banking is set to be another thrilling competition of high octane action. Photo: LGCT / Stefano Grasso