April 17, 2016 – Mexico City – The setting could not be more ideal for the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Mexico City. With the sun behind the clouds, and the grandstands as well as the four-tiered VIP packed with cheering show jumping fans, the challenging first round course set on the gorgeous and expansive Campo Marte grass field did not disappoint.
After 42 starts, even some of the world’s best riders had a rail or two over the Uliano Vezzani’s (ITA) track. Sixteenth to go and first clean was young superstar Jos Verlooy (BEL) on the gray stallion Caracas. Only five more matched that feat, Kent Farrington (USA) and Gazelle; Christian Ahlmann (GER) and Epleaser van’t Heike; Swiss rider Romain Diguet and Quorida de Treho; Roger-Yves Bost (FRA) and Qoud’Couer de la Loge, and another one of show jumping’s young superstars, Ireland’s Bertram Allen aboard Hector van d’Abdijhoeve.
Antonio Chedraui (MEX) and Ninloubet came close, clean over the course but .7 seconds over the 79 seconds allowed for a one fault score sitting seventh.
Nine four-fault rides and two five fault rides will also return for round two.
With a purse of 400,000 Euros, $450,000 or 8 million pesos at stake, the top eighteen slated to return for a competitive and challenging second round will certainly make show jumping history here in Mexico City.