Beat Mändli and Dsarie Spin to Win in President’s Cup

Beat Mändli and Dsarie Win $130,000 Longines FEI World CupTM Jumping Washington President’s Cup

Washington, D.C. – October 28, 2017 – The path to the 2018 FEI Show Jumping World Cup Finals in Paris has to start somewhere, and for Switzerland’s Beat Mändli it began on Saturday. Piloting the 9-year-old KWPN mare Dsarie to a foot-perfect jump-off, the 2007 World Cup Champion took home top honors during the $130,000 Longines FEI World CupTM Jumping Washington President’s Cup at the Capital One Arena.

A field of 26 horses was narrowed down to 11 for the final tiebreaker, where speed would prove to be the key victory. Alison Robitaille was the first to return aboard Ace, and set the pace to beat 34.57 seconds as the pathfinder with a clear effort. Four rounds later, Mändli took his shot over the track. He took risks by leaving out strides and making a tight rollback. The risks paid off as Dsarie crossed the finish line in 32.07 seconds with all the rails intact.

McLain Ward and HH Callas

Reigning World Cup Champion McLain Ward was the next to clear the short course with HH Callas, but he was just shy of the time, clocking in a t 32.30 seconds, which would be good enough for second place. Catherine Tyree and Enjoy Louis were the last to tackle the track, and they also left all the fences up, but their time of 33.83 seconds would only hold up for third place.

Catherine Tyree and Enjoy Louis

This marked Mändli’s first trip to the Washington International Horse Show, and with luck on his side he took home winning title during the prestigious horse show at the nation’s capital.

The next stop for Mändli will be the CP National Horse Show in Lexington, Kentucky, where he hopes to continue to earn points towards qualifiying for the World Cup Finals. There is a bigger championship on Mändli’s find though, as he aims his young mount towards the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon, North Carolina. Scopey, careful and smart, Mändli believes Dsarie has all the key ingredients to be a championship horse for Switzerland.

Beat Mändli and Dsarie

FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE

Beat Mändli – Winner of the $130,000 Longines FEI World CupTM Jumping Washington

Beat Mändli and Dsarie

On his jump-off:
For me, the course was perfect. I knew that she could do the five to last fence. I know she’s a very good turner on the rollback and the eight – it was a very good jump off for me. It just suited my horse very well. Every jump is a risk when you try to go fast. One to two I tried to go fast, she gave me such a good feeling. I just kept going and she just left the fences up. That’s what it’s all about.

On Dsarie:
I really think she’s a superstar. She can go very far also doing some championships I hope. She’s only nine years old, and there’s nothing she can’t do. She has all you need. She has the scope, she has the super brain, she’s rideable, careful, everything you need. For sure, we have our eyes on Tryon for the WEG.

McLain Ward – Second Place

On his jump-off:
It’s always a fine line, these jump-offs at this level. Beat had a phenomenal jump off round. It really would have taken a perfect round to beat him. If there was a place where I could have done one less it was the fourth to last jump, number four of the jump-off. But I also would have risked coming at a harder angle and maybe have had it down. You do the best you can on every turn and every line, it’s inches, but that’s the sport. That’s what makes it exciting. He put up a great round. I don’t think if I knew the horse six months more I would have been able to do something better because of that.

On HH Callas:
I feel like the last couple of months have been getting more consistent which is a key for a horse like that because they have to be predictable. I was very pleased with her over those three big grand prixs. I was actually pleased. We didn’t have a brilliant grand prix last week in Tryon. I made some mistakes. It was nice to rebound and have a good finish today. We’ll see. We have some exciting young courses coming along. We’ve had a little bit of trying to rebuild the string, because my string is getting a little bit older now. I always do try to structure it where, when I am lucky enough to have a superstar like Azur, to have some buffers around her.

Catherine Tyree – Third Place

On Enjoy Louis:
I’ve had Louie for about two and half years now, and he’s really been the horse that’s stepped up to this level. So now that I’ve gotten a bit more comfortable, I’ve really tried to push myself as much as possible in these jump-offs. Coming behind Beat and McLain, I know they’re phenomenal riders that I look up to, and I heard that they had great jump-off rounds. I’m on a bit more of a slower mover, so I really just tried to be as neat as possible. I could have been a little bit more efficient in a few places, but Louie always steps up. I couldn’t be more thrilled with him.

RESULTS

$130,000 LONGINES FEI World Cup™ Jumping – North American League – Washington CSI4*-W
Place / Horse / Rider / Country / R1 Faults | Time / JO Faults | Time
1. Dsarie / Beat Mändli / SUI / 0 | 59.30 / 0 | 32.07
2. HH Callas / McLain Ward / USA / 0 | 59.47 / 0 | 32.30
3. Enjoy Louis / Catherine Nicole Tyree / USA / 0 | 57.72 / 0 | 33.83
4. Ace / Alison Robitaille / USA / 0 | 60.97 / 0 | 34.57
5. Dougie Douglas / Katherine A. Dinan / USA / 0 | 58.65 / 4 | 32.03
6. Cassinja S / Charlie Jacobs / USA / 0 | 58.41 / 4 | 33.62
7. VDL Wizard / Callan Solem / USA / 0 | 59.10 / 4 | 33.98
8. Nektarina B / Christine Mc Crea / USA / 0 | 59.15 / 4 | 37.38
9. Robin de Ponthual / Peter Lutz / USA / 0 | 58.92 / 8 | 32.89
10. Hermelien vd Hooghoeve / Ali Ramsay / CAN / 0 | 58.17 / 8 | 34.58
11. Clear Water / Marilyn Little / USA / 0 | 56.57
12. Main Road / Shane Sweetnam / IRL / 4 | 56.41

For full results, click here.

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