Breathtaking demonstration of the Zurich, who took control, Thursday, of the 42nd final of the Jumping World Cup in Leipzig with “Chaplin II”. Bad luck for Steve Guerdat, only 25th.
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Martin Fuchs leads the 42nd jumping World Cup final. On Thursday, he mounted “Chaplin II”. Friday, he will saddle “The Sinner” as the regulations allow him (photo).
Accustomed to podiums in recent years and 2nd in the last Jumping World Cup final in April 2019 in Gothenburg, Martin Fuchs can dream of winning this Cup that Steve Guerdat then held up. The 29-year-old from Zurich made an anthology this Thursday in Leipzig with “Chaplin II”.
“I knew Chaplin was particularly fast and capable of winning and the course was ideal for him. I also had a great draw, at the very end I got to see the first half of the competitors and then I watched some more favorites on the screen in the paddock, preparing my horse. That said, I stuck to the plan I had set myself during the reconnaissance of the course”. The insurance and composure of the greats!
At the finish, more than a second ahead of the Austrian Max Kühner, 2nd with “Elektric Blue P”, and two over the Irishman Conor Swail, 3rd with “Cout me in”. Winner in 2017, the American McLain Ward, 5th, might have made everyone agree without a fault with “Contagious”, but he keeps all his chances, like the Dutch favorite Harrie Smolders, 9th, or Marcus Ehning, 11th .
Alternate between his two mounts
Conversely, Steve Guerdat, triple winner of this Cup like Ehning, has already lost all his chances. His “Victorio des Frotards” made a first fault on oxer no. 6, following slipping on the turn, and he once more touched the last two while trying to catch up with his time: 25th! It remains to aim for the jump-off this Friday, still with his same French chestnut.
It remains to be seen which horse Martin Fuchs will bet on 24 hours following his victory. ‘Chaplin II’ seemed to jump with unnerving ease, but he planned to saddle ‘The Sinner’, as World Cup regulations allow. “I’m thinking of sticking to my initial plan and betting on “The Sinner” on Friday and on “Chaplin” on Sunday,” says the brilliant 29-year-old from Zurich, more motivated and determined than ever.