Ph. ©Thomas Reiner
It’s been five years since American super-horsewoman Beezie Madden won a World Cup Final, and her performances so far this weekend have her poised to do it once again.
When she and Simon won the Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final in Gothenburg, Sweden in 2013, Madden won the opening speed class for an early lead. She has topped that performance this weekend at the 2017-2018 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final in Paris, and has won the first two rounds of the Final.
With her second consecutive win last night, she’s one step closer to clinching the 2018 title.
In Breitling LS’s first major championship, the 12-year-old stallion has proven his talent in spades and his potential to help Madden go all the way on Sunday. “He has a super temperament – actually he’s so nice that a lot of people don’t seem to realize he’s a stallion! He’s careful and clever, and every time I call on him he does everything I want – I couldn’t ask for any more,” she said.
Flashback Friday to Madden’s 2013 Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final III aboard Simon:
As last to go in Friday’s nine-horse jump-off, Madden cruised home with the fastest double clear in 33.22 seconds to overtake eventual second place finisher Dutchman Harrie Smolders and Emerald, while Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann clinched third with Toveks Mary Lou.
Von Eckermann has now advanced to second in the overall rankings ahead of Sunday’s two-round finale in which Madden will kick off with a one-fence advantage.
“It’s nice to have a rail in hand, but we are really only halfway through the competition,” said Madden. “We have two more rounds and maybe a jump-off on Sunday. It can all change a lot yet.”
Full details on Friday’s Table A competition at this link.
Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final standings after Final II, here.