August 21, 2016 — Langley B.C. — Nayel Nassar and Lordan are just unbeatable. After winning Wednesday’s Open Grand Prix Nayel and his fantastic little gelding came through today with two beautiful clear rounds to win again.
Nayel had some concerns about going into the jump off with the smallest horse in the field, saying, “I thought I was at a little bit of a disadvantage with the lines because people were getting eights in most places where I had to do nine, but that kind of put me at an advantage for the turns that came right after those lines. In general he’s pretty quick, he turns on a dime and is pretty fast across the ground, I thought that if I could execute my plan it would work out.”
And it did! Congratulations to Nayel Nassar and Lordan who beat out 11 others to win the GP today at Thunderbird Show Park.
Nayel Nassar (EGY) and Lordan win the Reliable Rentals $100,000 CSI3* Grand Prix at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley B.C. August 21, 2016. Photo – Rebecca Berry
The class was a full field of 44 starts over a 13 jump course set by Peter Holmes. The course was a good test for the riders with some tricky spots, including the triple combination that caused many to succumb to four faults as it came up quickly off of jump 11 which was a single vertical out of the corner. Jump four also caused multiple rails, it was a big oxer off of a bending line that many couldn’t quite find the right spot.
Twelve riders came back for the jump-off, including Americans Rich Fellers, Karl Cook with two rides, Cara Anthony, and Jennifer Gates. Canadians Ben Asselin, Brenda Riddell, and Lisa Carlson and Enrique Gonzalez from Mexico, Nikolaj Hein Ruus from Denmark, and Eric Navet from France.
The jump-off was exciting with lots of opportunities for tight turns to gallop spots and a plank right at the end that caused faults for both Lisa and Jenn. Enrique started the jump off with a clear round of 44.79 seconds. Ben followed but caught a rail on the second to last jump for a time of 43.31. Rich was next in a heartbreaking fast, clear round, but he missed the last jump causing him to have to cross his track to finish with six faults. Karl followed on his first ride Caillou to take the lead with a clear round of 43.74.
Karl Cook (USA) and Caillou place second Reliable Rentals $100,000 CSI3* Grand Prix at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley B.C. August 21, 2016. Photo – Rebecca Berry
Lisa unfortunately had the first and last rails down but rode a blistering round with the fastest time of 41.55. Nikolaj was next with a clear round but not fast enough at 44.90 to beat Karl for first. Brenda also had the first rail down and took the safer turn options to finish at 51.55. Nayel was eighth back in the ring and rode a beautiful round utilizing Lordan’s agility perfectly to the fastest clear time of 42.34.
Karl came in with his second horse Tembla but had a rail early so not able to beat Nayel. Jenn rode a wonderful round but just caught the last jump for four faults with a time of 52.15. Eric rode a fast round of 44.70 but with the third jump down wasn’t able to beat the leader. Cara was last to go and rode another clear to finish with a time of 44.70, just fast enough to slip into third.
1st – Nayel Nassar and Lordan
2nd – Karl Cook and Caillou 24
3rd – Cara Anthony and Ayma de Demi Lune
4th – Enrique Gonzales and Chacna
5th – Nicolaj Hein Ruus and Big Red
6th – Ben Asselin and Plume de la Roque
7th – Eric Navet and Catypso
8th – Karl Cook and Tembla
9th – Brenda Riddell and Dutch Amouretta
10th – Jennifer Gates and Pumped Up Kicks
11th – Lisa Carlsen and Worlds Judgement
12th – Rich Fellers and Flexible