Fruhmann Sense and Sensibility…

Austria's Thomas Fruhmann scooped the winners purse in tonight's second leg of the Global Champions Tour supported by CN Worldwide at Cannes Jumping International in France. The 55 year old rider who won the individual world title in Del Mar, California in 1992 disappeared from the top level of the sport about seven years ago but made a sensational comeback during the early part of the 2005/2006 World Cup season with his new ride The Sixth Sense, and has now sealed his return to the big time with this latest victory.

In a marathon three-round thriller that ran to almost four hours of competition the top 18 went into the second round but there were only four clears amongst them and, in the end, that was where the result was decided. There was considerable criticism of the tight time in the opening round which, according to the eventual winner, punished good horses by throwing them off-balance, and a total of seven went through to the top 18 carrying a single time fault, while one carried two time faults and the remaining six were the fastest four-faulters.

Once again course-designer Serge Houtmann really put it up to them but the three top finishers – Fruhmann, Skelton and the home side's Michel Hecart – all expressed their displeasure at the severity of the track. “These were hard, tough courses all week” Skelton said last night, “the course designer could have been much kinder to the horses”.

Brazil's Rodrigo Pessoa and Baloubet du Rouet were pathfinders in the second round having been clear to the very last in the first round but even this amazing partnership could not leave all the fences up and lowered the third, a vertical, in round two.

However the closing stages were to be played out between the clear round group of which just three went into the third-round jump-off against the clock when Holland's Leopold Van Asten and VDL Groep Fleche Rouge lowered the bogey oxer at four second time out.

It was a head-to-head of the old masters, with the three men's combined age totally a colossal 156 years! First to take on the reduced track of seven fences was 53 year old Michel Hecart, a veteran of many day's good sport, but he left the door open when his 10 year old gelding Itot du Chateau hit the second last. Fruhmann was next in the running order and while he kicked on he was cautious on the turn from the double at the halfway stage to the following vertical to come home in 40.56 seconds. “I looked up

at the clock after the double and saw I was a bit slower than Thomas so I tried to move up a bit but my horse ran a bit at the vertical and had it down” said Skelton, reflecting on his single error that allowed the Austrian to take pole position. But, having made his mistake, Skelton pushed on to come home a second quicker than Hecart and slotted into runner-up spot, collecting a tidy €30,000 while Fruhmann received a brand new Kia car and €10,000 in cash.

“To be third when you only have three finalists could be disappointing but I'm still happy” said Hecart afterwards. “My horse is very small, just 1.57cms so he's probably one of the smallest horses on the circuit, but he has a big heart” the French rider added. Skelton reflected on what his agenda is now “Rotterdam Super League and then San Patrignano I think” he said, “but I'm not keen to go to the championships at my age. I'm too old for all that now, a world title would mean nothing to me and I'd prefer to keep my horse fresh and go to Calgary”. He does not hide his great affection for the sturdy little stallion who, he admits, has taken over as his favourite of all the horses he has ever ridden. “He's just such a great character – he tries so hard – and I'd like to keep him going for another few years. But I know I will be asked to go to Aachen, so I have no choice” he said.

Fruhmann has concerns about The Sixth Sense too. “Four weeks ago he injured himself on his coronary band and he started jumping a bit scared but he's ok now.

Wiesbaden was his first big class for a while and he's a funny horse – you have to play with him a bit but he's a fighter and on the first day here I just let him play around and then yesterday he was third. I know from the minute I jump the first fence if he is going to be good. He's very spooky so you have to be careful with him but he's honest and super-careful even though he is not the easiest to ride. Today I would have been happy if I was second or third – I wasn't really trying to win!” he pointed out.

Results (10.06.06)
Grand Prix Ville de Cannes
FEI Art. 273.2.2 + 3.1, 1m60

1º Thomas Frühmann (Aut) / The Sixth Sense / 0/0/0-40,06
2º Nick Skelton (Gbr) / Arko III / 0/0/4-38,26
3º Michel Hecart (Fra) / Itot du Chateau / 0/0/4-39,22
4º Ludo Phlipaerts (Bel) / Parco / 1/0-80,19
5º Jessica Kurten (Irl) / Quibell / 1/0-80,48
6º Edwina Alexander (Aus) / Pialotta / 1/0-80,49
7º Jos Lansink (Bel) / Cumano / 1/0-81,25
8º Nicolas Paillot (Fra) / Infinie Rivage / 4/0-77,95
9º Leopold van Asten (Hol) / Fleche Rouge / 0/4-78,22
10º Jean-Claude Vangeenberghe (Ucr) / Tresor / 4/0-78,48