A total of eleven combinations qualified for the jump-off in the 1.60m World Cup leg in Leipzig. No one was able to top the performance of Steve Guerdat and his 12-year-old Albfuehren's Iashin Sitte!
Together with Is-Minka, Steve Guerdat had already won the Championnat von der Stadt Leipzig on Saturday. In the saddle of the 12-year-old sBs gelding, Alfbuehren's Iashin Sitte, the Swiss rider left no room for the competition today. In the World Cup, Guerdat steered the son of Bamako de Muze (breeder: Daniel Boudrenghien) to victory in 42.21 seconds.
Simon Delestre was one of the last to start and came close to Guerdat's time. The Frenchman guided the 10-year-old SF stallion, Gatsby du Tillard (President), clear through the finish in 43.25 seconds. The pair pushed Gerrit Nieberg and the 11-year-old BWP gelding, Ping Pong van de Lentamel (Emerald), into third place.
Norwegian show jumper Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen, meanwhile, continues his strong form. Aboard Colonello (Colestus), he jumped a clear round to take fourth place. The entire top five managed to complete the jump-off without faults. In the saddle of Starissa FRH (Stakkato GOLD), Mario Stevens completed the top five in front of his home crowd.
Steve Guerdat:
“I didn’t let the pressure get to me at all as the first starter in the jump-off. I know my horse and I know how fast he is. He is very rideable but doesn’t have the biggest stride, so I don't even look at what my colleagues are doing. We didn’t do anything wild; it was a smooth, consistent round, but in the end, it was enough, and of course, I’m very happy about that,” said the winner, Steve Guerdat, afterwards.
