Jessica Springsteen seizes her chances in Vienna:

The iconic ‘Rathaus’, or City Hall, was witness to Thursday’s opening competition over 2 phases.

The big field of 83 riders had the honour of raising the curtain on the first-ever GCT event in Austria.

Many of the GCT stars have been locked in an intense ranking battle over the 2012 season and decided to give their top horses a look around the impressive arena by competing only in the first phase, to save their strength for the crucial GCT Grand Prix of Austria on Saturday. With tension rising before the main event, riders like current GCT No1 Edwina Tops Alexander on Cevo Itôt du Chateau, last weekend’s Grand Prix winner Laura Kraut on Cedric and Valkenswaard runner-up Richard Spooner on Cristallo, all decided to keep their Grand Prix horses fresh for Saturday.

With the famous saving energy for the Grand Prix, it was up to the young wolves to grasp the opportunity to shine in the spotlight of Vienna. And so they did. After being beaten by Patrice Delaveau last week, Jessica Springsteen set things straight with a sharp double-clear, improving on Brazil’s newcomer Marlon Zanotelli on Corrito. It was only Hans ‘Hansi’ Dieter Dreher on Master de Menardiere who succeeded in a faster time, but a rail down along the way sent him down the leader board. Crowd favourite and showjumping veteran Thomas Frühmann, on his loyal horse The Sixth Sense, recorded the best Austrian result.