Credit: FEI/Arnd Bronkhorst/Pool Pic
Reigning Olympic Champion Steve Guerdat inches closer to an almost inevitable win. France’s Patrice Delaveau has withdrawn his mount Lacrimoso HDC after the talented gelding suffered a small injury, thought to have occurred after yesterday’s Final II round. This means that last year’s runner-up, Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat, now stands alone atop the leaderboard on zero faults heading into tomorrow’s final.
Germany’s Daniel Deusser now slips into second position aboard Double H Farm and Stephex Stables’ Cornet d’Amour. Holding 2 penalty points now, Daniel is exactly 4 points from the leader, Steve Guerdat and 5 points from next rider Ludger Beerbaum, who is tied for 4th position on the Standings with defending Champion Beezie Madden and Pius Schwizer.
At a press conference in Lyon today, Patrice Dealaveau told the media that Lacrimoso had suffered an injury but that it is nothing dramatic. “After the first round yesterday I thought I felt something but I was not sure, and he was not as good as usual in the jump-off” said Patrice today during the formal press Conference. ”
“Afterwards I knew he was not right, he was a bit lame but it wasn’t anything dramatic. We presented him at the horse inspection today and he was rejected. We were offered the possibility of presenting him again tomorrow morning but we decided – Philippe (Guerdat, French Chef d’Equipe) and the owners – that we will withdraw.”
“I am very disappointed for a lot of people, and for everyone here in France,” Delaveau continued. “It would be a wonderful story to see a French rider winning in France, but this is just the way it is, and the horse is only 10 years old and will surely have many other good years ahead of him.”
Event Director Sylvie Robert said she was disappointed for Patrice, “and for the French team, the owners and for French sport. There are still two French riders in the competition however and I wish them well,” she added.
“Patrice had a great chance to take this title this weekend for France,” Philippe Guerdat said, “but it is fate for him and that’s just the way it is. We were all in the stables together today, including the horse’s owners, Armand and Emmanuele Perron-Pette, and I have to congratulate them for their unselfish decision to withdraw Lacrimoso. They thought only of their horse’s well-being – that came first and not the possibility of victory.”
Patrice showed Lacrimoso at this morning’s vet-check that took place ahead of Monday’s final, but Lacrimoso did not pass. Delaveau was still got the possibility to present the horse on the second vet-check on Monday morning, but decided together with the owners, Haras de Coudrettes, to withdraw from the final. Lacrimoso will now undergo more examinations to clear up his health condition.