The pinnacle class of the day, The London Grand Prix, saw 35 of the world’s best horse and rider combinations go head-to-head for the €110,000 prize fund. Bernardo Costa Cabral’s masterfully designed course created challenges throughout, with several leading contenders – including the likes of World No. 2 Steve Guerdat – picking up faults at the imposing triple bar at fence three.
It was not until last year’s winning duo, Daniel Coyle and Legacy, as thirteenth to go, that a clear round was posted. World No. 1, Henrik von Eckermann, made sure of a jump-off with Illiana, closely followed by Denmark’s Andreas Schou and Mariano Martinez Bastida from Spain. World No. 9 Martin Fuchs and last to go, Katharina Rhomberg made it a total of six riders to go through to the second round to compete for the prestigious London Grand Prix title.
First to contest the shortened course against the clock was defending champion Coyle. The Irishman set out meaning business, giving every effort to retain his title, but picked up four faults on the way. Von Eckermann, representing Sweden, showed why he has retained the World No. 1 position for 29 successive months posting the first double clear and setting a time to beat of 37.97 seconds.
Martinez Bastida put on an impressive performance aboard the 10-year-old gelding Jup to take over the lead almost a second faster than von Eckermann. Switzerland’s Fuchs came close with another beautifully ridden round, but his time of 37.63 seconds was only enough for provisional second. Last into the arena, Rhomberg wasn’t able to match the precision and pace set by Martinez Bastida, leaving him to become the first ever Spanish rider to win the London Grand Prix.
A delighted Martinez Bastida said: “It’s incredible, it’s the first 5* Grand Prix that I have won and to win it in a place that is so emblematic of the sport and as historic as London – I’m extremely happy. It’s the most important win of my career so far!”
Talking about his tactics going into the jump-off, he continued: “I have lots of experience with my horse – I have had him for two years – so bearing in mind there were not many in the jump off, I knew that we had the speed and ability to win, and a big stride to make up time between the fences. I knew it was either give it my all, or not at all, so I gave it my all!”
