Swiss rider Martin Fuchs showed why he is ranked number two in the world with a win aboard Stalando 2 in Thursday’s $137,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 7 CSI5* at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL.
Fuchs and Stalando 2 were one of 49 entries to contest Thursday’s featured class, and the duo was one of 13 combinations to jump the first-round track without fault to qualify for Spain’s Santiago Varela-designed short course.
When Fuchs entered the ring as the penultimate rider, the time to beat had been set at 40.75 seconds by Great Britain’s Amanda Derbyshire and Luibanta BH, owned by Gochman Sport Horses LLC.With his spot in the order on his side and with strides left out throughout the course aboard Stalando 2, Fuchs shot straight to the top of the leaderboard with a double-clear time of 40.69 seconds.
“I watched all the riders before me,” said Fuchs. “I planned to do a stride less from one to two, which I did, and then also through the double, I saw Daniel Bluman leave out a stride. I tried to do the same as he did. Everything worked out very well. To the last fence, I pulled once and it scared me a bit that I wouldn’t have the time! I’m very happy with this.”
Fuchs’s time with Stalando 2 would relegate Derbyshire to second, while third place with a time of 41.28 seconds went to the final rider to return, Canada’s Mario Deslauriers riding Amsterdam 27, owned by Deslauriers and Wishing Well Farm, LLC.
The class marked only the fourth or fifth show for Fuchs and Stalando 2, who Fuchs is riding at WEF for owner Gospodarstwo Rolne Andrzej Oplatekd.
“He’s a great horse, a real trier,” said Fuchs of the 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Stakkatol x Lando) “He isn’t the prettiest, but he’s such a good guy. He gives his best. He’s very careful.”
In addition to his win, Fuchs was awarded the Champion Equine Insurance Jumper Style Award for week 7 from Champion Equine Insurance’s Laura Fetterman. He aims to show Stalando 2 at additional four- or five-star competition throughout the WEF season, but for Saturday night’s featured $401,000 Lugano Diamonds Grand Prix CSI5*, Fuchs will ride his proven grand prix partner, Silver Shine.
Also winning in the International Arena at WEF on Thursday were Spencer Smith and Sangris Boy in the $8,000 Dutta Corp/G Klatte 1.45m CSI2* and Natalie Dean and Don’s Diamant in the $2,500 High Amateur-Owner Jumpers.
Fuchs and Stalando 2 were one of 49 entries to contest Thursday’s featured class, and the duo was one of 13 combinations to jump the first-round track without fault to qualify for Spain’s Santiago Varela-designed short course.
When Fuchs entered the ring as the penultimate rider, the time to beat had been set at 40.75 seconds by Great Britain’s Amanda Derbyshire and Luibanta BH, owned by Gochman Sport Horses LLC.With his spot in the order on his side and with strides left out throughout the course aboard Stalando 2, Fuchs shot straight to the top of the leaderboard with a double-clear time of 40.69 seconds.
“I watched all the riders before me,” said Fuchs. “I planned to do a stride less from one to two, which I did, and then also through the double, I saw Daniel Bluman leave out a stride. I tried to do the same as he did. Everything worked out very well. To the last fence, I pulled once and it scared me a bit that I wouldn’t have the time! I’m very happy with this.”
Fuchs’s time with Stalando 2 would relegate Derbyshire to second, while third place with a time of 41.28 seconds went to the final rider to return, Canada’s Mario Deslauriers riding Amsterdam 27, owned by Deslauriers and Wishing Well Farm, LLC.
The class marked only the fourth or fifth show for Fuchs and Stalando 2, who Fuchs is riding at WEF for owner Gospodarstwo Rolne Andrzej Oplatekd.
“He’s a great horse, a real trier,” said Fuchs of the 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Stakkatol x Lando) “He isn’t the prettiest, but he’s such a good guy. He gives his best. He’s very careful.”
In addition to his win, Fuchs was awarded the Champion Equine Insurance Jumper Style Award for week 7 from Champion Equine Insurance’s Laura Fetterman. He aims to show Stalando 2 at additional four- or five-star competition throughout the WEF season, but for Saturday night’s featured $401,000 Lugano Diamonds Grand Prix CSI5*, Fuchs will ride his proven grand prix partner, Silver Shine.
Also winning in the International Arena at WEF on Thursday were Spencer Smith and Sangris Boy in the $8,000 Dutta Corp/G Klatte 1.45m CSI2* and Natalie Dean and Don’s Diamant in the $2,500 High Amateur-Owner Jumpers.