Leprevost Unbeatable in Vienna

By September 22, 2012
Pénélope Leprevost and her striking grey horse, Mylord Cathago, clear a huge oxer against a backdrop of Vienna's historic Rathaus building.

Pénélope Leprevost and Mylord Cathago win the Grand Prix of Austria. (Sportfot)

France’s Pénélope Leprevost won the Grand Prix of Austria CSI5*, but it’s Aussie Edwina Tops-Alexander and Swede Rolf-Göran Bengtsson who won the day on Sept. 22. This marked the high point of the eleventh stop on the Global Champions Tour and the pair are in a tie for first as they head to the circuit championship, Nov. 24 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Bengtsson’s eleventh-place finish on Carusso SL La Silla in the Austrian capitol earned 24 points, taking him to 196 and a dead heat with Tops-Alexander (whose 24th place finish on Cevo Itot du Château earned zero).

VIP catering under the Rathaus arches.

VIP catering at the Rathaus. (Sportfot)

Germany’s Meredith Michaels Beerbaum and Bella Donna 66 finished second in a field of 40. The California expat is ranked the second-highest GCT 2012 earner, with $1.4 million, after reigning champion Tops-Alexander, with $2.5 million.

It was the first GCT grand prix win for the 32-year-old Leprevost, who rode Mylord Carthago, and also the first GCT to take place in historic Austria, where the arena was set up right in the town square and the horses stabled on surrounding streets.

The majestic Rathaus (“city hall”) was a spectacular backdrop for grandstands and a crowd of thousands.

The gothic-style building was designed and built by architect Friedrich von Schmidt between 1872 and 1883 and features a cathedral-like tower. VIPs got to enjoy hospitality service inside and on a patio overlooking the square.

Soaring arches inside the Rathaus, Vienna.

Inside the Rathaus (Sportfot)

Many of the top-ranked GCT stars ― Edwina Tops Alexander on Cevo Itôt du Chateau, last weekend’s Grand Prix winner Laura Kraut on Cedric and Valkenswaard runner-up Richard Spooner on Cristallo ― took their grand prix horses out only for a single round in the 5* 1.45m class on Thursday, allowing a look at the imposing arena while saving their strength for the 1.60m class on Saturday.

That left the podium wide-open for ingénues, and 20-year-old Jessica Springsteen (USA) rose to the win on  Vornado van den Hoendrik. She was second to Patrice Delaveau (FRA) in the same class the week in Lausanne. Hans-Dieter Dreher (BEL) on Master de Menardiere had a faster time but a rail down.

In addition to GCT show jumping, which ran Sept. 20-23, there was also dressage competition and a performance by the Spanish Riding School at the Rathausplatz.

Jessica Springsteen and Vornado van den Hoendrik on course in Vienna.

Jessica Springsteen and Vornado van den Hoendrik won the 1.45m. (Sportfot)

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