Two-in-a-row for Richard Howley and Consulent de Prelet Z!!

What a fantastic performance again from the Irish rider Richard Howley and his 12-year-old chestnut gelding Consulent de Prelet Z! A week after the successful duo won the first World Cup leg of the season in the Norwegian capital Oslo, they delivered another great performance yesterday by also adding the World Cup leg of Helsinki to their list of honors!

Howley and Consulent de Prelet Z, a son of Consulent Z and Fuego du Prelet who was bred by Svo Trans Feka, were one of the 38 combinations that appeared at the start in the Finnish capital yesterday afternoon of the second leg of the season, for which the Brazilian course designer Guilherme Jorge had designed a tough basic round. However, Howley and Consulent de Prelet Z confirmed their good shape and after a clear round they were one of the 8 combinations that managed to qualify for the jump-off in which they were the very last combination to re-enter the ring. They once again managed to provide a flawless performance and with a convincing finish time of 34.18 seconds they had a lead of more than 2.5 seconds over the competition!

Richard Howley: “I always want to win, and competing against the best riders you have tot give all. My horse is very careful so I can ask him everything, I can move fast and collect him at the last minute. Obviously I never thought I would win both legs even if it is always the goal to win. I really want ty try to go to the World Cup Final so this is my chance and we are very motivated.”

But just like in Oslo, the CSI5* GP on Saturday also received a blue/yellow victory in Helsinki. This time it was achieved by the French rider Kevin Staut with the 10-year-old gelding Beau de Laubry Z, a son of Bisquet Balou Vd Mispelaere and Nabab de Rêve, who was bred by Haras de Laubry and with whom Staut managed to achieve a 4th place during the Oslo World Cup last week. Staut and Beau de Laubry Z were one of only 4 combinations that managed to qualify for the jump-off and they beated the competition with a clear round in 35.70 seconds.

Kevin Staut: “First of all, I am very happy and grateful for my horse, who has reached the top level only 2-3 months ago. He finished 4th in het Oslo World Cup last weekend, but I knew it was going to be more technical here. Since he doesn’t have much indoor experience yet, I thought it would be better to jump the Grand Prix instead of the World Cup. However, the Grand Prix was really very difficult and technical. I’m very happy with how it turned out.”

Another striking combination in Helsinki was the Swiss rider Martin Fuchs with the 9-year-old gelding Viper Z, a son of Vigo d'Arsouilles and Grannus who was bred in Germany by Guido Sperveslage and with whom Fuchs finished 5th during the CSI5 * GP of Oslo last week. Fuchs and Viper Z managed to achieve a 2nd place twice during a 1.40m class on Friday and and a 1.40m class on Saturday morning, but kept the best for the 1.50m class on Saturday evening. In a competition against the clock, they rushed to the finish in 60.90 seconds, which put them more than half a second ahead of the competition.

It was also a successful show for the Belgian rider Jens Vandenberk with the 9-year-old black stallion Diamant Van 't Coseveld Z, a son of Diamant de Semilly and Corrado I, who was bred in Belgium by Dorien Boden and Dries Schreurs. After a 5th place during the 1.40m class on Friday and a 4th place during the 1.40m class on Saturday, Vandenberk and Diamant Van 't Coseveld Z jumped into the spotlight for a 3rd time yesterday during the final day with a 5th place during the 1.45m high speed class.

Last but not least, during the opening day on Friday there was also a victory for the French rider Julien Anquetin with the 10-year-old grey stallion Z Ice Cube Z, a son of Zacharov TN and Casco who was bred in the Netherlands by P.J. Amendt. Anquetin and Z Ice Cube Z became the winners of the 1.40m high opening class in which they had more than half a second ahead of the competition with a clear 2nd phase in 23.46 seconds.

The Swedish rider Jens Fredricson took 6th place in this 1.40m class with the 11-year-old stallion El Barone 111 Z (Emerald van 't Ruytershof x Libero H – B: Stal Harrie Theeuwes & Baron De Borrekens), who is also approved for Studbook Zangersheide.