Portuguese rider Luciana Diniz broke the British stranglehold and delivered a big form upset when she led from the start in the 12-strong jump-off in the Santa Stakes, sponsored by Waverley TBS on Wednesday Evening at Olympia. Unpromisingly, Luciana was drawn first to go, a situation in which there is only one option – to go for it – and that is what the 37-year-old did, flying around the arena on Meautry’s Locarno to post an unbeatable target of clear in 35.4 sec.
Course-designer Bob Ellis’s jump-off course demanded tight turns and a bold gallop down the length of the arena to the bogey fence, a big upright, which many riders had down in the first round.
Only Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat on Tresor V could beat Luciana’s time, but he had that last fence down. Other riders opted for steadier clears, of which Sweden’s Malin Baryard was fastest, second on H & M Espri. Best Briton was Mark Armstrong, sixth on Sefana.
08 THE SANTA STAKES sponsored by Waverley TBS
Int. competition with one jump-off (1.60 m, Table A)
OFFICIAL RESULT
1 Meautry’s Locarno Diniz, Luciana POR 4300 GBP 0 faults 35.40 sec
2 H&M Espri Baryard-Johnsson, Malin SWE 2600 GBP 0 faults 36.24 sec
3 Gitania Ehning, Marcus GER 1410 GBP 0 faults 36.80 sec
4 Lorenzo Ahlmann, Christian GER 1300 GBP 0 faults 39.79 sec
5 Connor Mändli, Beat SUI 975 GBP 0 faults 42.73 sec
6 Sefana Armstrong, Mark GBR 715 GBP 0 faults 44.24 sec
7 Tresor V Guerdat, Steve SUI 595 GBP 4 faults 34.40 sec
8 Ronaldo Smith, Robert GBR 455 GBP 4 faults 38.00 sec
9 Oki Doki Zoer, Albert NED 350 GBP 4 faults 40.19 sec
10 Castle Forbes Libertina Kürten, Jessica IRL 300 GBP 4 faults 44.45 sec
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