OCALA, Fla.--Germany’s Andre Thieme on Paule S won the $350,000 Grand Prix CSIO5* on Thursday evening, March 19, as part of the Longines League of Nations week at the World Equestrian Center.
Andre Thieme on Paule S (Photo by Andrew Ryback)Seven were clean from a starting field of 38 over the course set by Alan Wade of Ireland, who made full use of the WEC Grand Arena with a beautifully decorated track.
Christian Kukuk of Germany won the $350,000 Grand Prix last year, and the reigning Olympic champion opened the jump-off with a clear round in 42.14 seconds on Fantasia de WY, to lay down the gauntlet for those who followed.
But Thieme, who went fifth in the order, went clean in 41.85 seconds to beat him and give Germany a one-two finish.
France’s Nina Mallevaey, 26, on Nikka vd Bisschop, last to go, was clean in 42.49 seconds to place third, exactly as they had done one year earlier.
Aaron Vale on Carissimo 25, clean in 42.88, was fourth, and Natalie Dean on Mr. Bombastic, the only other clean in the jump-off, finished in 44.23 to place fifth.
“I REALLY wanted to win,” said Thieme, who has been spending his winters in Ocala for the past 26 years. “When I saw Christian, I knew this was going to be very hard. I was placed in every single grand prix here this year, and every single time, I didn’t take enough risk in the jump-offs. I thought okay, this is the last one in Ocala, so I took that risk, and it worked.”
“A few years ago I thought we’ll see if Paule is going to be clear-headed enough to finally do the sport because he always had the power, he always had the technique, he has everything it takes to be successful in the five-star sport,” said Thieme. “He’s very, very hot-blooded, and he has a very thin line between being too crazy and too hot and too strong; he has the power of five horses. But now he has won so many five star Nations Cups, and he has been successful all around the world. This is not the first big grand prix that he’s won, so I have to give it to him. I’m very happy for the horse.”
With a strong finish in the Grand Prix, Germany has become the odds-on favorite to win Saturday's $770,000 Longines League of Nations team competition.
As the defending title holders, the U.S. team of Natalie Dean, Lillie Keenan, Laura Kraut, and Aaron Vale won’t go down without a fight when the action gets underway at 5:15 p.m. ET.
Belgium, Brazil, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, and Switzerland have all come to play with thrilling competition guaranteed.
