Maikel van der Vleuten has won the third leg of the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping, following a fast and furious jump-off in Verona.
Strong partnership
Eleven combinations made it through to the second round, including four Italians, much to the excitement of the home crowd. However, none could beat the fast time of Dutch double-Olympians Maikel and his dependable VDL Groep Verdi.
Maikel has had the 15-year-old gelding since he was four and the pair clearly has a strong partnership.
“He is a horse that likes to win and that’s very important,” said Maikel. “If you are a good rider and you have a horse that is not able or doesn’t want to win, then it’s just not possible.
“Every week I try to feel how he is, I don’t need to teach him jumping anymore, he knows his job and what’s most important for me is that he has to be happy,”
Olympic medallist
Italy’s Alberto Zorzi came close to beating Maikel’s time with Fair Light van T Heike, and was just 0.26sec behind him to take second place. Belgian rider Pieter Devos was third riding Apart.
Bronze Olympic medallist Cian O’Connor just missed out on a top ten placing. He produced a foot perfect first round with Skyhorse, but went on to pick up an unfortunate 10 faults in the jump-off.
Alberto Zorzi is now at the top of the league table ahead of the fourth leg in Lyon, France this weekend week (5 November). Robert Whitaker is flying the flag for Britain, in sixth place.
You can watch all the World Cup action right here on H&C. FEI World Cup Jumping: Verona premieres on 2 November at 8pm on Sky 253 and online via H&C Play or Amazon Video. Don’t worry if you miss it, as it will then be available on Catch-Up.