The Next Generation: Rising Stars Shine in Riyadh & Beyond
The future of show jumping was on full display this weekend as young horses dominated the prestigious LGCT Play Offs in Riyadh and other major competitions worldwide.
A New Leader of the 10-Year-Old Ranking
Point Break Breaks Through
One of the talking horses of the LGCT Play Offs in Riyadh this weekend undoubtedly was Ben Maher’s Point Break. The 10-year-old stallion produced four perfect clear rounds for his team, the Shanghai Swans, to help them claim the silver medal in the GCL Play Offs. The young stallion has been on a steep ascent up the ratings.
After a five-star 160 victory in Lyon, followed by a runner-up finish in the World Cup of Verona, Point Break crept closer and closer to the top of the ratings in his age category. After producing four more five-star 160 clear rounds in the GCL Super Cup, Point Break has completed the weekend on an Elo rating of 768 which was enough to overtake Kent Farrington’s Greya (764) as the highest-rated ten-year-old horse in the world. A 768 Elo rating is also enough to rank among the Top 10 horses in the entire world and, at 10 years old, is the youngest horse in this elite list.
Ermitage Kalone Enters the Top Three
However, Point Break was not the only 10-year-old to show their talent in Riyadh over the past weekend. Gilles Thomas’ Olympic stallion, Ermitage Kalone was in superb form throughout the weekend. The pair produced one of just two double clear rounds in the LGCT Super Grand Prix to finish in second place among some of our sport’s most successful combinations. With an Elo rating of 755, Ermitage Kalone is now one of the Top 3 rated 10-year-old horses in the world.
Nine-Year-Olds Make Their Mark
Foxy de la Roque’s Meteoric Rise
The younger generation was also out in full force over the past weekend. Victor Bettendorf’s nine-year-old Foxy de la Roque took the jumping world by storm, by taking a historic victory in the LGCT Super Grand Prix. This exhilarating victory boosted Foxy’s Elo rating significantly to become the joint highest-rated nine-year-old in the world. What makes this feat even more impressive is the fact that Foxy de a Roque has only competed in four five-star shows throughout her entire career, yet already has four five-star 160 victories to her name. An ascent rarely seen in this sport.
Rising Stars Across the Globe
Foxy de la Roque is joined at the top of the 9-year-old table by Sophie Hinners' Iron Dames Singclair. The pair produced yet another clear round for the Cannes Stars in Riyadh last weekend in the GCL Super Cup and are back at the head of the nine-year-old ranking on an Elo rating of 736.
As reflected in his name, Impress-K van't Kattenheye Z also impressed in the LGCT Super Grand Prix in Riyadh last weekend to break that 700 Elo barrier and climb up a spot in the Top 10.
Not in Riyadh, but active across the pond last weekend, Daniel Bluman's Corbie V.V. finished second in the World Cup of Arcadia to climb up a couple of places in the nine-year-old ranking and complete on an Elo rating of 714.