Francisco Pasquel and Naranjo Victory Gallop
January 28, 2017 – Guadalajara, Jalisco, MX – Mexico’s Francisco Pasquel and Naranjo delivered the only double-clear to secure the win in the $100,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Guadalajara, presented by Scappino. Of the twenty-eight starters, four advanced to the jump-off, including two Pasquel brothers, Francisco and Patricio.
FEI course designer Olaf Petersen, Jr. of Germany built a technical course with a more generous time allowed than Thursday’s qualifying class. In the oversized arena at the Guadalajara Country Club, the challenge to stay on an efficient track still caught two riders who jumped clear over the sixteen efforts but incurred time faults, ultimately earning fifth and sixth.
The second rider in the original order, Miguel Maron Kahwagi of Mexico and Brave Liberty San Gabriel, led the way in the jump-off. Collecting eight faults, he left the door open for the remaining three competitors. Francisco galloped in next on his 10-year-old gelding and executed an efficient and fault-free round in 44.24.
Patricio Pasquel and Babel, 2nd
Patricio felt the pressure as he attempted to better his brother’s effort aboard his mount Babel. Making a bold decision to leave out a stride to the tall 1.60m vertical midway through did not work out as planned when the pair left all the poles on the ground as they met it on the half-stride. Continuing on without hesitation, Patricio finished with a fast four-fault score in 43.57. No stranger to international competition, Mexico’s Antonio Chedraui rounded out the jump-off aboard Ninloubet. With a light rub in a short combination, the pair emerged with four faults in 47.22, earning third.
“I was a little bit lucky. The horse jumped amazing in the first round. He got a little bit nervous in the jump-off, but in the end it was luck,” said Francisco of his win.
Francisco was referring to his brother who without a mid-course error would’ve won with a faster time. When asked what he would have done differently, Patricio stated, “Not let him win, of course.” As the press and competitors laughed, he continued warmly. “I’m so glad he won. He did a good job and going before all of us he did a fast enough round without going crazy. And I put a little emotion into the class.”
Each of the top three riders tipped their hats to Petersen, Jr. for a job well done with the course.
Alexandro Mills and Bartender, 5th
“We had faults here and there and we had a lot of riders with only one rail. I think more than half of the class had zero and four faults, and if it’s like that I am always very happy,” commented Petersen, Jr. “And as a course designer you also need luck. I wouldn’t change anything today.”
Leading the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping standings for the Western Sub-League of the North American League is Mexican rider Enrique Gonzalez. Although he earned his points competing in the U.S., where his business is now based, Gonzalez will hopefully represent his home country in Omaha in the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final in two months’ time. The Triple Copa Scappino hosted the penultimate qualifier for riders seeking a trip to Omaha, with the final qualifier at HITS Coachella in California on Saturday, February 11, 2017.
Looking to expand show jumping in Mexico internationally, Francisco, who heads the Organizing Committee for the Triple Copa Scappino among other show jumping events in Mexico, announced that he has plans to bid for two weeks of Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping competition in Mexico. He would like to host one event in Valle de Bravo and one in Guadalajara for the next three-year contract that begins with the 2018-2019 season.
“I would love to have the first week, one week off and then the second week so that people from the United States and Canada could come and show in both classes,” Francisco explained.
With the idyllic setting at the Guadalajara Country Club and the beautiful Mexican winter weather, the superb competition at the Triple Copa Scappino, CSI4*-W concludes tomorrow.
Official Web site: http://www.feiworldcupmx.com/