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Helena holds on for third World Cup win
Sunday, July 27th, 2008
by Peter Ibrahim Abisheganaden. Photos by Natasha Mustapha are copyright of Equestrian.Com.My
Helena Gabrielsson had to work hard to win her third World South East Asian World Cup this season at the Malaysian Open at 3Q Equestrian this afternoon. The Swede had won two of the preceding three SEA League World Cups, but was made to sweat as the first rider out in a 5-way jump-off for the Malaysian Open World Cup class.
There were just seven starters in the Malaysian Open World Cup class as Andika Jamaluddin was a late scratching having been injured in a fall in the 120 m Table C class his morning. German FEI Official Course Designer Werner Deeg built a 1.40 - 1.45 m track of 11 fences with one treble. No flashy fences this time, so he gets five clear rounds. Surprisingly Qabil Ambak and last World Cup winner Parvina was not one of those five clears. They were drawn first to go. Their bad luck didn't end with the draw. They had two lackadaisical fences down to ruin their chances of winning the league this season.
To rub it in, five of the next six starters go clear. Helena and King Power Aladdin are the league leaders and they showed why. Once they got really motoring after the second fence, their clear round was never in much doubt.
Hong Kong's Jacqueline Lai and Gamo were really lucky to lodge a clear round. They had varied take-off spots and three strided both later elements of the treble. They cut some corners but somehow the big horse kept jumping for her and they crossed the finish line with everything still standing. It was unbelievably lucky.
Her compatriot Jennifer Chang and Luxor 91, by comparison, got her clear round from an excellent ride. Luxor is well settled today, and jumping well. They produce a steady clear that doesn't rely on luck for her result.
Quzier Ambak and Calano (pic right) are polished professionals. He gives the big horse a superb ride. Even though the arena isn't the best for this rangy horse, Quzier gets the best out of the Holstein gelding and they record the 4th consecutive clear round of the class.
Qabil tries to make amends with a clear round with Amadeus Van Boswinning. He has to work hard to stay with the big jumping Belgian stallion. Qabil records the 5th clear round of the class, but it is hardly awe-inspiring.
Helena gives her second horse Nixon de la Tourette an outing, but has four fences down as Nixon shows a little inexperience in the tight ring.
The Jump-Off
Helena and King Power Aladdin are the favourites to win the jump-off. They show us why with a quick bouncy clear. Helena gallops Aladdin whereever she can, and it looks fast, and clean, in 51.24 seconds. Nobody will beat that I predict to myself.
Jacqueline Lai has a mishap in the warm-up arena that was perhaps a left-over that was due in the main arena earlier. She wisely withdraws from 2nd spot in the jump-off.
Jennifer Chang and Luxor (pic right) don't seem to be taking any crazy chances and even take a longer route to the penultimate fence. They go for what looks like a safe clear but their time of 51.57 seconds is just a third of a second slower than Helena's. Suddenly Helena's time looks vulnerable.
Who better than Quzier Ambak and Calano to give it a real go. They look about on schedule but a couple of pulls on the way to the last costs them the win as they have it down and go over in 52.06 secs.
Qabil and Amadeus don't really press the time, and with a fence down and it is just about all over for the short World Cup season, with regards to the championship.
Helena survives for her second World Cup win with King Power Aladdin this season, and her third of the four held so far. With only one dropped score in the league, it is her World Cup season.
Next week's Merdeka Masters, also at 3Q Equestrian, should be her crowning.
Quick results:
1st Helena Gabrielsson (SWE) King Power Aladdin 0/0, 51.24 seconds 2nd Jennifer Chang (HKG) Luxor 91, 0/0, 51.57 secs 3rd Quzier Ambak (MAS) Calano, 0/4, 52.06 4th Qabil Ambak(MAS) Amadeus Van Boswinning, 0/4 52.43 5th Jacqueline Lai (HKG) Gamo, 0/Scr 6th Qabil Ambak (MAS) Parvina, 8 penalties. 7th Helena Gabrielsson (SWE) Nixon de la Tourette, 16 pens
Official Results: Please click here to download a PDF File with the official result of the Malaysian Open World Cup Class. Overall standings: 1.
Helena Gabrielsson (King Power Aladdin, Sweden)
35 points, 2. Qabil Ambak (Parvina, Malaysia) 21 points, 3. Quzier Ambak (Calano, Malaysia)
19 points
Jasmine Lai of Hong Kong created an upset in the Class 9 (Mitavite SEA Young Riders Series, 125cm) when she defeated Singapore’s Franchesca Liauw to take over the championship lead.
Going into today’s competition, Franchesca held a two-point lead after collecting 17 points from the earlier three rounds, but Jasmine collected 11 points for her win today to boost her total to 26.
Franchesca is a point behind after earning eight points for her second place finish and Switzerland’s Chris Meyer is third with 17 points.
Known for her aggressive riding style, Franchesca completed the course the quickest in 56.63 seconds but made a mistake at the first fence for four penalty points.
This paved the way for Jasmine to claim first place with a time of 60.83 seconds after a clear round. Meyer was third on 68.27 seconds and four penalty points.
“I was really nervous jumping before Franchesca as I knew I had to set a good time and to do so without any faults,” said the 16-year-old Jasmine, who has been riding since she was 10.
Meanwhile, Tunku Nazroff won the Malaysian Open Class 8 (Medium Tour, 120cm) event on Tom Cruise with a time of 65.68 seconds.
Anne Beetham, astride Hamlet, clocked 66.13 seconds to finish second while Gabrielsson, on Nikita, was third (65.68 seconds).
Mohd Zulfikar rose to the occasion to win the Class 7 (Small Tour, 90cm) event on Scooty with a time of 26.81 seconds.
KhairulAzri on Perkasa was second when he stopped the clock at 27.52 seconds while Anaz Azman, riding Penrose Witchitty, was third on 28.47 seconds.
Class 9 (MitaviteSEA Young Riders Series,
125cm): 1. Jasmine Lai (Drumlough, Hong Kong), 60.83s, 2.
Franchesca Liauw (La Bonita, Singapore) 56.36s (four penalty points), 3. Chris Meyer (Caipirenha II, Switzerland) 68.27s (four penalty points)
Overall standings: 1.
Jasmine Lai (Drumlough, Hong Kong) 26 points, 2. Franchesca Liauw (La Bonita, Singapore)
25 points, 3. Chris Meyer (Caipirenha II, Switzerland) 17 points
Other Results:
Class 8 (Medium Tour, 120cm): 1. Tunku Nazroff (Tom Cruise, RSPC) 65.68s, 2. Anne Beetham
(Hamlet, BKECR) 66.13s, 3. Helena Gabrielsson (Nikita, Sweden)
67.72s
by Peter Ibrahim Abisheganaden. Photos by Natasha Mustapha are copyright of Equestrian.Com.My
Quzier Ambak and Calano 
Jennifer Chang and Luxor