Olivier Philippaerts and Cataleya 3 Cruise to First in CSI5* 1.50m During Day Two of LGCT Miami Beach

Miami Beach, Fla. – April 19, 2019 – Rain or shine, day two of the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) Miami Beach continued competition on Friday, April 19. A previously forecasted day full of thunderstorms and rain turned much brighter once the clouds cleared and the sun began to shine. However, shining the brightest of them all was Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) as he raced to the finish line, claiming victory in the 1.50m CSI5* aboard Cataleya 3.  

Olivier Philippaerts and Cataleya 3
Olivier Philippaerts and Cataleya 3

Forty-four competitors raced against the clock in phase one as a stadium full of enthusiastic spectators watched from the beachside bleachers. A total of 13 obstacles made up the healthy-set course designed by Uliano Veezzani of Italy. The 1.50m track featured a triple combination (oxer-vertical-oxer) and an in-and-out that was the source of many rails falling to the ground. Twelve fault-free riders were invited back for the jump-off phase where they completed a shortened course of only seven obstacles.

Olivier Philippaerts and Cataleya 3
Olivier Philippaerts and Cataleya 3

Philippaerts’ impressive clear ride in the jump-off ultimately secured the win for him, crossing the final set of timers in 34.85 seconds. Cataleya 3 (Cachas x Chiara), a 10-year-old Holsteiner mare owned by Stal Lenssens, has been ridden by the Philippaerts family since 2017. The youngest of the Phillippaerts brothers, Thibault, previously competed Cataleya 3 in junior competitions and the European Championships in Europe. Now, the 26-year-old Belgium athlete has taken over the ride with LGCT Miami Beach marking only his fourth show with her. Philippaerts is optimistic for the future with this special horse.

Ben Maher and Don Vito

Clinching the reserve spot in the 5* competition was Ben Maher (GBR) riding Poden Farms’ Don Vito. Maher’s three years of experience with the KWPN gelding gave him an edge in the jump-off, riding a confident double clear track in a time of 35.63 seconds. The three-time Olympic rider currently ranks seventh in the Longines Jumping FEI World Cup standings with a total of 2,705 points.

Betram Allen and Izzy By Picobello
Bertram Allen and Izzy By Picobello

Stopping the timers in 36.16 seconds was Bertram Allen (IRL) and Ballywalter Farms’ 11-year-old BWP gelding Izzy By Picobello (Cicero Z x Capriano), sliding into third place. With over 5 years of partnership between them, the pair boasts wins across the world. Twenty-six-year-old Allen is currently holding the top position in the FEI Jumping U25 Rankings and 27th in the Longines World Rankings with 2,090 points.

Competition will continue into Saturday, April 20, for the final day of beachside show jumping and will highlight the final round of the Global Champions League (GCL) team event at 2:15 p.m. followed by the feature Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Miami Beach CSI5* at 5:15 p.m.

 

FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE

Olivier Philippaerts – LGCT Miami Beach 1.50m CSI5* winner

On the jump-off:
“I think to the vertical in the jump-off was a very quick turn. I know my horse is extremely fast so I decided to do the same amount of strides as every other horse because I knew mine could do them faster. Her speed was enough today.”

On Cataleya 3:
“We’ve had [Cataleya 3] now for two years but she was doing the junior competitions and championships. She won the gold medal in the European Championships so she’s always been very good. I took over with the horse four shows ago so I haven’t done a lot, but we won a class in Paris and now this one. It’s going really well and I’m happy to ride her. After this, she’ll go home and have a quiet two weeks and we don’t have a plan for her yet. I think it’s important after a long two weeks of [LGCT Mexico City] and this event, that they have a bit of a break.”

On LGCT Miami:
“This is my second time showing in Miami. It’s always a big difference coming from [LGCT Mexico City] where it’s a very quiet, big ring to this where you have the beach and lots of noises. Both are great. The horse likes it here and it’s truly an amazing event.”

RESULTS

LGCT Miami Beach 1.50m CSI5*
Place / Horse / Athlete / Country / R1 Faults / R2 Faults | Time
1. Cataleya 3 / Olivier Philippaerts / BEL / 0 / 0 | 34.86
2. Don Vito / Ben Maher / GBR / 0 / 0 | 35.63
3. Izzy By Picobello / Betram Allen / IRL / 0 / 0 / | 36.16
4. Hector van d’Abdijhoeve / Denis Lynch / IRL / 0 / 0 | 36.50
5. Zacramento / Peder Fredricson / SWE / 0 / 0 | 36.56
6. Quel Homme de Hus / Jérome Guery / BEL / 0 / 0 | 37.24
7. Espoir / Pieter Devos / BEL / 0 / 4 | 34.35
8. Zinius / Harrie Smolders / NED / 0 / 4 | 35.08
9. Creedance / Kent Farrington / USA / 0 / 4 | 36.25
10. H&Mk Ikker / Nicola Philippaerts / BEL / 0 / 8 | 36.37
11. MJT Nevados S / Gregory Wathelet / BEL / 0 / 8 | 44.88
12. Hello Senator / Scott Brash / GBR / 0 / 9 | 50.88

 

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