Marco Kutscher second consecutive win
On saturday night in Vigo Marco Kutscher was in great need of someone to pinch his arm. Was this really the second great victory in one week time? Did his big horse Cash, which doesn’t show a lot of blood, really develop into a speedy prize winner? The answer to both questions was: yes! Last week in Bordeaux Marco Kutscher and Cash won the Grand Prix, beating compatriots Marcus Ehning/Sandro Boy and Ludger Beerbaum/Coupe de Coeur. Last night the pair came out on top of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ field in Vigo.
“I still can’t believe that this is happening”, said Kutscher. The German indeed was faster than the crowd’s favourite Sergio Alvarez Moya, who was second aboard Wisconsin, and Helena Lundback from Sweden, who ended up third with Madick. In fourth place a second Spaniard raised the roof of the Ifevi Trade & Fair Centre. Rutherford Latham secured his place in the final with Guarana Champeix. Riding a controlled double clear round, Rutherford Latham collected the valuable 13 points that come with fourth place. Chances are great that the winner of the first leg of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ competition in Oslo will compete in the final in Las Vegas.
Ground speed
Calculating the risks, that was exactly what Marco Kutscher also was doing in this tricky jump off of 13 combinations. “I went quick, but not over the top”, said Kutscher. “There were no options in the jump off, so the ground speed of the horse was decisive. Some horses were quicker than mine, like
No Mercy from Christina Liebherr, they were even a second and a half faster.
But a lot of horses made mistakes, especially at the second vertical, coming from a long line. Only four went double clear. I was pretty fast, but didn’t want to loose control. Riding in the beginning of the jump off, I tried to put the pressure on my competitors. That worked, I can’t tell how happy I am!”
Cornet going to Vegas
Especially the 20 World Cup points meant a lot to Kutscher, who plans to ride Cornet Obolensky in Las Vegas. “He needs more experience, in view of the championships I hope to ride with him. But I’m not yet absolutely sure about my place in the final, so I’ll be riding in Göteborg and ‘s Hertogenbosch as well, in order to pick up a few more points.”
According to Marco Kutscher, his horse Cash developed mentally rather than physically into the status of a winner at Grand Prix level. “He’s very big and not fast by nature. Physically he was strong already, but now his mind can handle the rapid sequence of events in a jump off. He has matured.”
Home riders
The 5500 spectators saw good sport and good performances of their home riders. Almost in the beginning of the jump off, both Sergio Alvarez Moya and Rutherford Latham showed convincing rounds. “There were several short turns to a vertical”, explained Sergio Alvarez. “That suits my horse very well, he’s pretty hot tempered. And coming from acute angles my horse is better at jumping verticals than oxers, so I could really attack the fences coming from these corners.”
To Alvarez Moya his second place in Vigo meant more than victory somewhere else. “For years I’ve been trying desperately to ride in Vigo, but for various reasons it didn’t work out. I have to thank the owner of my horse Wisconsin, mr Wilfried Floren. I’m based with him in Antwerp, Belgium. He bought this horse from the breeder, mr Harrie Theeuwes, who is a very good friend of him.
Time allowed
Quite a big group of top riders made the journey to the north west of Spain, very close to the Portuguese border, to try and collect WC points. Course designer Avelino Rodriguez Miravalles had to build a true Rolex FEI World Cup™ competition with big size jumps and some tricky related distances.
Yet, 13 riders managed to qualify for the jump off. “In terms of height and technicality, this was a good World Cup course”, said Marco Kutscher. “Just the time allowed was not very demanding. If that would have been three or four seconds shorter, we may have had eight or so combinations for the jump off.”
Madeleine Winter-Schulze
Having three horses in the jump off, the Rolex FEI World Cup™ competition in Vigo was a huge success for Madeleine Winter-Schulze, owner of the winning horse Cash and owner of the numbers 9 and 10 Coupe de Coeur and Souvenir. But it’s also true to say that this competition was dominated by Ludger Beerbaum, who employs and trains Marco Kutscher and 10th placed Philipp Weishaupt. “We have an amazing stable”, said Kutscher. “Including Henrik von Eckermann, we have four top riders. And a string of top horses and youngsters. This is really a unique situation.” Third placed Helena Lundback was the ice on the Riesenbeck cake, the Swedish rider also spent many periods of training with Ludger Beerbaum.40 points or more
The Rolex FEI World Cup™ competition is coming closer to its culmination in Las Vegas. Riders with 40 points or more can be pretty sure about their place in the final. And that’s exactly why Marco Kutscher, Helena Lundback and Rutherford Latham will keep excellent memories of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ competition in Vigo.
Results of the Rolex FEI World Cup™ competition in Vigo:
1) Marco Kutscher (GER), Cash, 0-0/39.40 sec.
2) Sergio Alvarez Moya (ESP), Wisconsin, 0-0/40.82 sec.
3) Helena Lundback (SWE), Madick, 0-0/42.56 sec.
4) Rutherford Latham (ESP), Guarana Champeix, 0-0/43.08 sec.
5) Christina Liebherr (SWI), LB No Mercy, 0-4/37.71 sec.
6) Lars Nieberg (GER), Lucie, 0-4/38.23 sec.
7) Thomas Frühmann (AUT), The Sixth Sense, 0-4/38.89 sec.
8) Gerco Schröder (NED), Eurocommerce Milano, 0-4/39.88 sec.
9) Ludger Beerbaum (GER), Coupe de Coer, 0-4/40.12 sec.
10) Philipp Weishaupt (GER), Souvenir, 0-4/40.45 sec.
Standings after 11 of 13 competitions:
1) Gerco Schröder (NED), 69
2) Edwina Alexander (AUS), 57
3) Steve Guerdat (SUI), 51
4) Albert Zoer (NED), 50
5) Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA), 49
6) Jos Lansink (BEL), 48
7) Lars Nieberg (GER), 47
8) Rutherford Latham (ESP), 46
9) Daniel Etter (SUI), 45
9) Mikael Forsten (FIN), 45
9) Helena Lundbäck (SWE), 45
12) Marcus Ehning (GER), 44
13) Ben Maher (GBR), 43
14) Ludo Philippaerts (BEL), 41
14) Marco Kutscher (GER) 41
16) Jessica Kürten (IRE), 40
17) Geir Gulliksen (NOR), 39
17) Thomas Velin (DEN), 39