Nicholson cruises to victory at Luhmuhlen

Kevin McNab and Clifton Pinot 
third after cross country day at Luhmuhlen 
Photograph:Kit Houghton/FEI

It was the 51-year-old New Zealander’s fourth CCI4* victory in a year, but the first for his long-time loyal owners, Robin and Nicky Salmon, who have often seen their striking-looking grey gelding come close to major honours without ever taking the big prize.

“He’s a big horse that’s taken time but he’s kept improving through all his training, and that means that out of all my four-star wins this one is particularly rewarding,” said the invincible Nicholson, who has now won four of the world’s six CCI4*s.

Zara Phillips (GBR), who finished second on Trevor Hemmings’ High Kingdom, put pressure on Nicholson right until the end with a beautifully ridden clear Jumping round.

However, the six-time Olympian rose to the occasion magnificently, just rattling the second fence but soaring over the rest to finish on his Dressage score of 38.0.

“He was too ice-cool,” Phillips smiled sportingly. “Thank goodness he can’t ride at the Europeans!”

Phillips was clearly thrilled by the continuing improvement shown by her Olympic team silver medallist. “He’s getting better all the time,” she said.

Both the two leading horses are Irish-bred: Mr Cruise Control is by the great jumping sire Cruising and High Kingdom is by Master Imp.

In contrast, William Fox-Pitt’s two horses, which rose to third and fourth places with immaculate clear rounds, are both from continental stock. Neuf des Coeurs, third, is a smart Selle Francais by Nidor Platier, and Lionheart, fourth, is a majestic German-bred by Lancer lll. Neuf des Coeurs missed much of last season through injury and Lionheart, one of the best jumpers on the circuit, is clearly back to his best after inexplicably tiring on the Olympic Cross Country last year.

“It’s been a happy weekend,” said Fox-Pitt, who has now overtaken Jock Paget (NZL) in the HSBC FEI Classics™ to lie second on the leaderboard behind Nicholson. “It was great to have both horses jumping and galloping so well and I couldn’t be more pleased.”

Kevin McNab (AUS) had modestly predicted that he wouldn’t be making either Nicholson or Phillips too nervous in the final phase, but he only had one rail down on Clifton Pinot, slipping from overnight third to fifth place.

Fellow Australian, Andrew Hoy, who had been in fourth after Cross Country with Rutherglen, did not present the 10-year-old at this morning’s horse inspection.

The winner, Nicholson, again proved his skills with a top-10 finish on his catch ride, Rathmoyle King. He hit two rails on the 15-year-old grey, but that wasn’t enough to drop him in the final placings and he held onto sixth. With just Burghley to come in the HSBC FEI Classics™, it seems that 2013 is going to be Nicholson’s year.

Final results

1 Andrew Nicholson/Mr Cruise Control (NZL) 38.0 + 0 + 0 = 38.0

2 Zara Phillips/High Kingdom (GBR) 39.7 + 0 + 0 = 39.7

3 William Fox-Pitt/Neuf des Coeurs (GBR) 47.7 + 0 + 0 = 47.7

4 William Fox-Pitt/Lionheart (GBR) 48.2 + 0 + 0 = 48.2

5 Kevin McNab/Clifton Pinot (AUS) 47.5 + 0 + 4 = 51.5

6 Andrew Nicholson/Rathmoyle King (NZL) 48.0 + 0 + 8 = 56.0

7 Marilyn Little/RF Demeter (USA) 53.5 + 0 + 4 = 57.5

8 Jonelle Richards/Flintstar (NZL) 51.5 + 0 + 8 = 59.5

9 Andreas Dibowski/FRH Butts Avedon (GER) 48.3 + 3.6 + 8 = 59.9

10 Lucinda Fredericks/Flying Finish (AUS) 36.7 + 19.6 + 4 = 60.3

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HSBC FEI Classics™ leaderboard (after 5 of 6 events)

1 Andrew Nicholson (NZL) 55 points

2 William Fox-Pitt (GBR) 36

3 Jonathan Paget (NZL) 27

4 Michael Jung (GER) 22

5 Craig Barrett (AUS) 15

6 Zara Phillips (GBR) 12

7 Natalie Blundell (AUS) 12

8 Murray Lamperd (AUS) 10

9 Sandra Auffarth (GER) 8

10 Bruce Davidson Jr (USA) 8

16 June 2013

McNab and Hoy charge ahead at Luhmhulen

Kevin McNab, the man who taught this year's Badminton winner Jock Paget (NZL) to ride, is now having his moment in the spotlight and is third following cross country day at Luhmuhlen on Clifton Pinot.

“I was lucky to go early I think,” said McNab, who has left his Queensland home to have a spell competing in Europe. “My horse gallops really well and, as my owner was confident we’d get the time, I was under orders.”

McNab is on equal points with fellow Australian Andrew Hoy (Rutherglen).

The top of the leaderboard has been considerably rearranged. Dressage leader Ingrid Klimke (GER) retired after Tabasco TSF tripped out of the DHL Paket Komplex (fence 4) and ran past the boathouse which was the final element.

Lucinda Fredericks (AUS), second on Flying Finish, clocked 19.6 time penalties and is now 11th. She explained that she and Flying Finish were not fully fit due to her being injured in a fall in March.

“I’m out of breath just running up the hill here, so today was a very big step for me,” said Fredericks. “My plan for the weekend was to have a good competition and get a qualification. I’m just pleased to be here and am very happy with my round.”

Andrew Nicholson (NZL) opened and closed Cross Country day with two perfect rides and is now in the lead on Mr Cruise Control, the last horse on the course at Luhmühlen, presented by DHL Paket, the penultimate leg of the HSBC FEI Classics™.

Nicholson is also sixth on the pathfinder Rathmoyle King, but he got soaked in the middle of the day when Qwanza fell on landing in the influential first water complex, fence 4.

Zara Phillips (GBR), who is only 1.7 penalties behind Nicholson in second place, was the heroine of the day as a violent storm broke when she was midway round the course. However, neither she nor her horse High Kingdom appeared inconvenienced by the blinding rain and howling wind.

“It was a bit hairy near the end of the course when I could hardly see, but I’m so happy with the horse – he was listening to me for once!” said Phillips, who lost the silk on her helmet in the wind. “The hurricane was a bit interesting, with all the leaves blowing around, but the horse was fantastic. I pointed him and he jumped.”

Dirk Schrade (GER), seventh after Dressage on Edino, also retired after a steering problems at fence 4. Peter Thomsen (GER), fifth after the first phase on Horseware’s Cayenne, incurred 22.4 time penalties and is now 16th and Kai Rüder (GER), sixth after Dressage, had a runout on the onward-bound stallion Le Prince des Bois at fence 28.

Andreas Dibowski (GER) and FRH Butts Avedon are now best of the home side, having risen from 16th to ninth with just 3.6 time penalties.

Like Nicholson, William Fox-Pitt (GBR) produced two clear rounds inside the optimum time of 11 minutes 14 seconds, and is now fifth on Neuf des Coeurs and seventh on Lionheart.

Jonelle Richards (NZL), Nicholson’s Olympic team mate, was another to finish on a clean sheet and is in eighth place on Flintstar.

There were 25 clear rounds, 10 of which were inside the time, and 34 horses completed.

The most surprising mishap was for the usually foot-perfect combination of Nicola Wilson (GBR) and Opposition Buzz. The black gelding tripped in the water at fence 4, took off early at the step out and tipped over the boathouse. Neither he nor his rider was hurt.

The only serious accident of the day was the fall of French rider Emeric George and P’tite Bombe at fence 12, a rounded obstacle topped with brush, in the main arena where there were no other incidents. The horse was taken to a veterinary clinic for examination where, sadly, the decision was taken to have him humanely put down.

Andrew Nicholson, the only competitor to have three horses, talked through his busy day. “I’ve only ridden Rathmoyle King once before, but Carolyne Ryan-Bell [his owner] has done a great job producing him and it felt as though I’d ridden him for all of his career.”

He continued: “Qwanza didn’t do anything wrong when she jumped into the water and I don’t think I did. It was just one of those things. So I had a shower and dried my boots and then I got on Mr Cruise Control. He is very experienced at this level and was a pleasure to ride.”

Nicholson, 51, who is having the best run of success in his long and hardworking career, is now in line to win his fourth CCI4* in 12 months. This would greatly enhance his lead in the HSBC Rider Rankings and the HSBC FEI Classics™, but he said he was “just going to live for the moment tonight”.

Results after Cross Country

1 Andrew Nicholson/Mr Cruise Control (NZL) 38.0 + 0 = 38.0

2 Zara Phillips/High Kingdom (GBR) 39.7 + 0 = 39.7

3 Kevin McNab/Clifton Pinot (AUS) 47.5 + 0 = 47.5

4 Andrew Hoy/Rutherglen (AUS) 46.3 + 1.2 = 47.5

5 William Fox-Pitt/Neuf des Coeurs (GBR) 47.7 + 0 = 47.7

6 Andrew Nicholson/Rathmoyle King (NZL) 48.0 + 0 = 48.0

7 William Fox-Pitt/Lionheart (GBR) 48.2 + 0 = 48.2

8 Jonelle Richards/Flintstar (NZL) 51.5 + 0 = 51.5

9 Andreas Dibowski/FRH Butts Avedon (GER) 48.3 + 3.6 = 51.9

10 Marilyn Little/RF Demeter (USA) 53.5 + 0 = 53.5

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