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Madden continues Longines streak in Lexington
By Catie Staszak
Fresh off a victory in Washington (USA), defending Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Champion Beezie Madden (USA) continued her winning streak in Lexington—this time on a new horse.
Madden piloted Chic Hin D Hyrencourt to victory in the 10-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding’s World Cup qualifying debut. Using stride and scope to their advantage, the pair came home with a winning time of 36.57 seconds over Ken Krome (USA)’s shortened course. Molly Ashe Cawley (USA), herself a World Cup winner in New York (USA) this season, finished just two-tenths of a second behind the winner with Cat Ballou, crossing the timers in 36.77 seconds. Laura Kraut (USA) and Confu, the only other double-clear performers on the evening, rounded out the podium with a time of 38.10 seconds.
Six combinations qualified for the jump-off out of a field of 35, and clear rounds were again hard to come by in the second round. The first two jump-off competitors, Lucy Davis (USA) and Kent Farrington (USA), had the rail at the very first fence. Madden, who followed Kraut in the fourth slot, elected to try a different approach.
“John and I talked about it before the jump off, and we said we’d try to take a shot but also stay within ourselves,” Madden detailed. “I was lucky enough to see Laura go, and the competitive nature in me took over a little bit. I thought [the riders] were having trouble with the approach to [the first fence], so I showed [Chic] a gap when I went in [the ring]…and we got a good approach.”
Madden was also pleasantly surprised with her mount’s agility, considering they are relatively inexperienced as a pair in jump-off situations, having only been partnered since the summer.
“After I did the five-stride line to the end jump, I asked him to turn pretty hard in the air, because I didn’t think he could turn that great, but he really turned fast,” Madden said. “I kind of said, ‘Okay, we’ll go with it!’ It came right up in the turn, which was good for me, and I just tried to bring it home. I caught a good one to the last one, too. It was right out of stride. I basically just had a little fun with it!”
As defending champion, Madden is automatically qualified for the 2019 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Gothenburg (SWE). Her objective has become making as many of the horses in her string eligible and selecting the horse that is best prepared come springtime.
“I have already Darry Lou, Breitling, and Chic eligible,” she said. “I plan on using Coach early in the [winter] season, because he’s had a nice break. We’ll see who’s the hot horse going into the World Cup Finals, which is kind of what my strategy was last year.”
Tied at the Top
Lexington’s top two finishers now sit atop the east coast sub league standings of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League. Madden and Ash Cawley each have 46 points. Having won two qualifiers, Madden holds an outright lead. However, seeing as Madden is already pre-qualified for the Finals, Ashe Cawley would be the top qualifier in the league based purely off point standings.
“I don’t know, honestly, [which horse] I would take to World Cup Finals [at the moment],” Ashe Cawley said. “I definitely was leaning in the direction of [my winning mount in New York] D’Arnita, but I have to say, Cat Ballou really stepped up to the plate and did his job beautifully here. He’s obviously the big, big jumper. He’s super scopey, but he’s quite big, and Gothenburg is quite small! I think we just have to see how the horses keep going as the year goes on, and if I qualify, we’ll choose the one that’s at the top of their game at the time.”
The North American League continues in Toronto, Ontario (CAN), on 10 November 2018.
Result:
1. Chic Hin D Hyrencourt, Beezie Madden (USA) 0/0 36.57
2. Cat Ballou, Molly Ashe Cawley (USA) 0/0 36.77
3. Confu, Laura Kraut (USA) 0/0 38.104. Creedance, Kent Farrington (USA) 0/4 37.37
5. Caracho, Lucy Davis (USA) 4 50.07
6. Luibanta BH, Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) 8 38.74
7. Bokai, Cat Tyree (USA) 1 74.05
8. Hunters Conlypso II, Lorcan Gallagher (USA) 1 74.85
9. Toulago, Adrienne Sternlicht (USA) 1 75.71
10. VDL Cartello, Cormac Hanley (IRL) 1 77.28
Full results can be viewed here
Beezie Madden (USA) – 1st
“I felt comfortable with him straight from the start. We stepped him up to the FEI division, and he did really well. He’s just continually gotten better and better. It was just a process of figuring out which bit I liked best on him and which spurs I wear on him. Really, he’s been quite simple. Hopefully he stays that way!”
“I have a great team with a fantastic owner in Abigail Wexner; my husband John, who heads the team; a great staff behind me; and of course, some wonderful horses.”
Molly Ashe Cawley (USA) — 2nd
“My horse is very large. He’s just come back to sport after a lot of time off. He had an injury, and he spent a year out in a field. I haven’t gotten to do a ton of jump-offs with him. With the lineup having me go last, I knew I had to try to push it as much as I could push it. I was really thrilled and pleasantly surprised with how well he handled it and how quick and nimble he got. I really love the horse, and I’m just really happy to have him back. He seems to be back and better than ever. I’m thrilled with him.”
Laura Kraut (USA) — 3rd
“I watched first two [riders] not have any success to the first fence. My main objective was to get that out of the way. [Confu] was very, very good. I lost my balance a bit when I came out of the double. He turned really quick, and I shifted off into the left stirrup. He had to swing back, get me, and then continue! I think that’s what slowed us down a bit. I was very happy with him. I’m in good company!”
Standings: Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League — East Coast
- 1. Elizabeth Madden (USA) 46
- Molly Ashe Cawley (USA) 46
- Lucy Davis (USA) 40
- Georgina Bloomberg (USA) 28
- Shane Sweetnam (IRL) 28
- Laura Kraut (USA) 27
- Mattias Tromp (USA) 27
- Margie Goldstein-Engle (USA) 26
- McLain Ward (USA) 25
- Wilhelm Genn (GER) 20
Full standings can beviewed here
Standings: Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League — West Coast
- 1. Zazou Hoffman (USA) 32
- Eve Jobs (USA) 31
- Kelli Cruciotti (USA) 27
- Uma O’Neill (USA) 24
- Richard Spooner (USA) 23
- Eduardo Menezes (BRA) 21
- Karrie Rufer (USA) 21
- Eugenio Garza Perez (MEX) 20
- Jamie Barge (USA) 20
- Nicole Shahinian-Simpson (USA) 18
Full standings can beviewed here
