Germany won the Nations Cup at the scenic Piazza Di Sienna in Rome with zero penalties Friday, as powerhouse Ireland finished second on 4 penalties, while Belgium was third with 8.
German chef d’equipe Otto Becker with Jana Wargars, Jorna Sprehe, Kendra Claricia Brinkop and Daniel Deusser. (Photo: Sport e Salute, Ferdinando Mezzelani)
The U.S. and Mexico also had 8, but slower cumulative times than Belgium to wind up fourth and fifth respectively based on their clockings over the course designed by Uliano Vezzani.
Sports technology company EquiRatings, which is a partner with the show, used data analysis to give the best odds for victory to Ireland, a 26 percent win chance, but put Germany next-best at 13 percent, tied with Sweden pre-competition.
The Swedes, however, wound up seventh of the 10 countries that started, with a 16-penalty second round on Alcapone des Carmilles by Peder Fredricson after a disastrous 25-penalty trip in that round by Petronella Andersson claimed drop score status. Rolf-Goran Bengtsson’s Zuccero HV had a meltdown at the chariot jump with its white horses, ending his first round on the 54 penalty drop score. But he came back in triumph with a clear effort in the second round.
The USA and Belgium were both predicted to have an 11 percent chance of winning by EquiRatings.
But the U.S. was redeemed as the show came to a close with a victory by Karl Cook in the Rolex Gran Premio Roma on the speedy Caracole de la Roque, the former mount of French rider Julien Epaillard. Karl was one of six riders double-clear in the two-round class, clocked in 38.27 seconds. Max Kuhner of Austria was second on Electric Blue P in 39.58, ahead of Sweden’s Petronella Andersson on Odina van Klapscheut (39.78). The class was the first in a new Rolex multi-show series that will end in Wellington, Florida, next March.
Having an advantage as last to jump, Karl said, “I was going to win it. Not like I was actually going to win, but in my head I went in there to do it. I’d seen Max go, and how crisp and clean all his turns were, I wasn’t thinking I could shave two strides off anywhere. I just had to be quick, clean and do the strides I hoped were possible. I didn’t leave any strides out different to Max, but Caracole is just so fast along the ground and over the jumps, she looks where she’s going, she gets very square right out of the turn and she’s just so fast.”
When he mounts up, Cook said, “it’s a bit like lighting a rocket, and you can’t turn it off so you just have to point in the right direction.”
Karl Cook and Caracole de la Roque. (Photo Fotografi Sportivi)
“I started riding her in the middle of February last year so it hasn’t been very long and we’ve made some mistakes but we’ve learned a lot and it feels like we are almost there putting it all together.”
The other U.S. riders in the class, Lillie Keenan (Argan de Belliard) and Aaron Vale (Carissimo 25) were twenty-second and twenty-fourth respectively after having a single rail in the first round.
This show marked the eleventh time Germany had earned the Rome Nations Cup title on the spacious grass field in the heart of the city. Its riders — three of whom were women– finished double-clear, with the exception of anchor Daniel Deusser. But that was because he did not have to go a second time on Killer Queen VDM after his side had already clinched the honors under the guidance of Chef d’Equipe Otto Becker.
Germany’s anchor man, Daniel Deussser and Killer Queen VDM. (Photo: Fotografi Sportivi)
“This was absolutely brilliant with three double-clears from the three girls,” said Otto.
“I think we never had this before in Germany. And to win here in Rome at this special show, this special place, is something very special and I’m totally happy.” Otto wanted to celebrate the moment and declined to discuss German prospects for Paris in the wake of his country’s victory.
Germany’s Kendra Brinkop was thrilled with her young stallion Tabasco de Toxandria Z, noting, “Our day was great and we shouldn’t forget that my horse is only nine years old and jumping in his first Nations Cup. And also he showed how good the course was. He has not all the experience, but he gained experience on that course. It was a brilliant course.”
The only rider who achieved double-clear for the U.S. was Aaron Vale, who has risen in prominence as an Olympic contender since being paired last September with Carissimo, an 11-year-old Holsteiner. Two others on the U.S. short list for Paris finished with 4 penalties: Karl Cook (Caracole de la Roque) and Lillie Keenan (Argan de Baliard).
Aaron Vale and Carissimo 25. (Photo by Mackenzie Clark)
“Overall, I think there are a lot of positives to take away from the result today. To be tied for a podium position and just get bumped by a few tenths of a second is a tough pill to swallow, but we really had to fight to stay in it and everyone learned something today,” said U.S. Coach Robert Ridland.
“Aaron and Carissimo were impressive as a combination and put in our only double clear of the class, and both Lillie and Karl had an unfortunate rail in the second round after very strong, clear efforts in round one. Alise (Oken) bounced back to improve on her score in her second go, so I think all in all, it’s a good start to a very competitive few weeks for us here in Europe and sets the tone for us to be in the hunt for podium finishes at these major Nations Cup events.”
For complete Nations Cup results, click here. For complete grand prix results, click on this link
