Ph. Jumping Verona/Stefano Grasso
The USA’s Jessica Springsteen picked up victory in the competitive €61,500 Premio Prestige CSI5* on Friday at Jumping Verona in Verona, Italy.
Riding her own 12-year-old Belgian mare Davendy S (Kashmie Van Schutterschof x Pachat II), Springsteen was able to outrun a top-flight roster of the world’s best international show jumpers in this Friday feature class of Jumping Verona. Against a 13-horse jumpoff, she and Davendy S edged out France’s Simon Delestre and Hermes Ryan by a narrow margin, in 31.24 seconds over Delestre’s 31.47. Six riders laid down double clears, with Italy’s Piergiorgio Bucci slotting into 3rd with Casallo Z, and fellow Italian Luca Maria Moneta placing 4th aboard Connery.
Springsteen’s winning time was made more remarkable because she went first in the order for the jumpoff round.
“Some people thing that going in first in a jumpoff is a disadvantage, but I actually prefer it, because then I don’t have the anxiety of having to run after someone else, and I can think better about what I have to do,” Springsteen commented.
“Some people thing that going in first in a jumpoff is a disadvantage, but I actually prefer it”
Springsteen, who last competed Davendy S in October at the Longines Los Angeles Masters, has spent much of her year competing abroad in Europe from the base of her trainer, Edwina Tops-Alexander.
Jumping Verona continues through the weekend and will host a Longines Western European League World Cup Qualifier on Sunday afternoon. While Springsteen doesn’t plan to contest the grand prix, the group of riders that are lining up for it include the current top ranking riders in the race for World Cup points.
See full results of the €61,500 Premio Prestige CSI5* at this link.