Felix Vogg leads Luhmühlen CCI5*L after an exciting cross-country day

Due to a fast and clear round, Switzerland’s Felix Vogg and Colero will go into Sunday’s final jumping competition with their dressage score of 29.0 points. With 29.1 points, Tim Price (NZL) and Vitali are hot on his heels in second place, followed by Oliver Townend and Dreamliner with 29.6 points.

Mike Etherington-Smith’s demanding cross country course shook up the leaderboard. In total, nine horse-rider combinations managed to stay clear and within the time allowed. Felix Vogg, was over the moon after his round: “He went really well. He’s not a thoroughbred so he sometimes needs to be reminded that we need to keep going. He listened to me all the way round and I couldn’t have asked for a better effort. My goal for the season was to be among the top five here in Luhmühlen – and now I’d obviously really like to win.”

Tim Price was also full of praise for his horse’s round: “Vitali was super. He’s so talented and even though he does notice the crowd and can be a little impressed by the atmosphere, he’s still focused on the questions and always alert and attentive, which is exactly what I’m looking for in a horse.” The 12-year-old Holsteiner is competing at five-star level for the first time, so Price didn’t rush him: “He’s a first-timer so that’s where the time faults come because it’s my policy to start them in a way that they can find themselves at the bigger fences and questions. At this stage of the career I’ll happily accept a few seconds over the maximum time. He’s highly strung but he settled really well when we started and tried really hard all the way around.”

Oliver Townend and Dreamliner had the the fastest cross-country round of the day (10:48) and completed the podium ahead of the final day: “Dreamliner is maybe not the most athletic horse, but has a really great attitude, he’s so genuine and always wants to stay inside the flags. I’m so fortunate to be riding him.”

Michael Jung on course for gold in CCI4*S

In the CCI4*-S Meßmer Trophy, Michael Jung (GER) and Highlighter are in the lead with 25.6 points after cross-country day. Jérôme Robiné (GER) with Black Ice (29.0) and Dirk Schrade (GER) with Casino (29.6) are currently in second and third place. Michael Jung was one of only three riders who managed to stay clear within the time allowed: “Highlighter did a great job. He is super fit and we were able to keep up our pace before and over the jumps, that’s how we stayed within the time, which was quite difficult today. He’s so fit that the heat didn’t get to him at all. The cross-country course was super, the ground was really well prepared.”

With another fast round and only two added time faults, Jérôme Robiné and Black Ice worked their way up the leaderboard into second place: “The last competitions went very well for us but I still wouldn’t have expected to be in second place after the cross-country. The course was quite intense with a lot of questions and I had to make sure to keep him balanced. Now I’m obviously very pleased.”

Dirk Schrade and Casino only added 3.2 points to their dressage score and are currently in third place: “Casino went so well. We had a small misunderstanding at the last show, so I didn’t take any chances today and perhaps put a little too much pressure on him, so the round wasn’t as smooth as it could have been. The temperatures didn’t bother him at all, though. He was fresh right till the finish line.”

Full results here.

Source: Luhmühlen Horse Trials press release

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