Jennifer Chang raises the HK flag at Malaysian Open World Cup
Sunday, August 12th, 2007
by Peter Ibrahim AbisheganadenHong Kong's Jennifer Chang rode two immaculate rounds to win the Malaysian Open World Cup at 3Q Equestrian this afternoon. She was the first rider into the ring to jump FEI Official Course Designer Werner Deeg's course, and produced one of only two clear rounds of the 11 fence course with Luc Skywalker.
It was an accurate, controlled ride, far better than we have seen her ride this season. Gone was the inconsistency of take-offs spots that we saw with Jennifer in earlier World Cup classes. Luc Skywalker responded with some very good jumping. Even though they were first out in the jump-off, their time was just good enough to win the class.
The Malaysian Open trophy was presented to Jennifer by Y.A.M. Tengku Seri Temenggong Raja Tengku Baharudin ibni Sultan Mahmud al-Muktafi Billah Shah (pic above).
Only nine started the class, and only Quzier Ambak and Calano could match Jennifer and Luc Skywalker's first round clear. Five others four-faulted: Korean Sung-Whan Kim with both his rides, Qabil Ambak with Parvina, Andika Jamaluddin (Chivas Z) and Syed Mohsin (Linus).
Only Diego Lorenzo's 8 faulter and Helena Gabrielsson's 12 faults were worse. Helena will be kicking herself as the course did not look big enough to trouble King Power Aladdin, but the bay Holsteiner was not on form today, with the 4th, 5A and 5C of the treble coming down.
The course was relatively soft with only one combination, a long-striding treble of 2 strides from oxer to vertical and two longish strides to another oxer. Only the last line of six required a little riding as none of the others were directly related.
Quzier and Calano (pic right) jumped as if the course was built for them. The big horse looked back to his best, and enjoyed the space and distances much more than in previous rounds. Qabil and Parvina were unlucky not to get to the jump-off. They were jumping well, but the penultimate fence just tipped off. Korean Kim declared Han Ra this time and was almost right. Only the oxer at no. 9 came down. The other 4-faulters Andika, Mohsin and Sung-Whan with It's Fine, all had treble trouble.
In the Jump-Off, Jennifer came out and rode a clever round with just enough speed between fences to force Quzier's pace. She set a time of 42.72 secs. Quzier came out and rode almost exactly the same track as her, and while big Calano covered the ground with his long stride, it wasn't a quick gallop. The partisan crowd cheered Quzier on, knowing it was very close to Jennifer's time. So close
that in the end only 2/100th of a second separated them.
Jennifer should be well pleased with her win. She rode Luc Skywalker with authority and conviction and seemed far more settled than we have seen them before. They fully deserved their first World Cup victory.
Unofficial Results:
1st Jennifer Chang (HKG) Luc Skywalker, 0/0 42.72 secs
2nd Quzier Ambak (MAS) Calano, 0/0 42.74 secs
3rd Kim Sung-Whan (KOR) Han Ra, 4, 72.50 secs
4th Kim Sung-Whan (KOR) It's Time, 4, 74.60
5th Syed Mohsin (MAS) Linus, 4, 75.93
6th Qabil Ambak (MAS) Parvina, 4, 78.95
7th Andika Jamaluddin (INA) Chivas Z, 4, 82.59
8th Diego Lorenzo (PHI) ITC Discovery, 8
9th Helena Gabrielsson (SWE) King Power Aladdin, 12
