Vejer de La Frontera, Spain – September 13, 2020 – The GP class today was big, challenging and exciting to watch.  It was a fitting end to a week of professional competition here at Montenmedio in the Sunshine Tour’s  new Autumn Tour.  With the level of the riders and horses competing in this Olympic 2021 qualifier and Ranking class, it was clear the places would be hotly contested and the course designer Elena Boix Gracia, (3*) built a perfect track so the talents of both horses and riders could be shown.  There were 35 competitors in this 1.50m class  which was held in the David Broome, grass arena, and nine jumped clear in the first round.

The jump-off course was equally challenging with tight turn-backs and a very long gallop to the last upright fence. Laura Kraut (USA) riding the beautiful stallion Casco Bay (Quaprice Bois Margot x Flipper D’Elle), attacked the course with power and precision shaving tenths of a second off as she rode the first part of the course and jumped out of the penultimate fence, a double, turning in the air, just before the gallop to the last. The pair stopped the clock in 37.19 seconds for the victory.

The previous leader, João Marquilhas (POR) his super horse Glamour ES (Echo Vant Spieveld x Calvados), off of the top spot (37.41 secones).  However, second place hadn’t been secured yest because there was still one more combination to face the jump-off course.

As the last ones to go, the Spanish rider Eduardo Álvarez Aznar (ESP) and the chestnut gelding, Legend (Ogano Sitte x Nabab de Reve), whose ringcraft was a joy to watch as he slipped into second place with a time just 37.30 seconds.

In fourth was another Portuguese rider, Luis Sabino Gonçalves (POR) with Argan de Beliard (Mylord Carthago x Ahorn) and fifth and sixth places were taken by Irish riders who rode very smart rounds, Anthony Condon (IRL) with the stunning stallion SFS Aristio (Arko III x Voltaire) and Billy Twomey with Chat Botte E.D ( Casall / Darco).

For full results, please click here.

Source: Press release (edited) from the Sunshine Tour

Photos: © Sunshine Tour / Moises Basallote Fotografia