WELLINGTON, Fla.--World Ranked number 1 Henrik Von Eckermann of Sweden on Glamour Gairl won the $32,000, CSI3* 1.45m on Thursday, Jan. 16 to open competition on the grass derby field during Week 2 of the Winter Equestrian Festival.
Henrik von Eckermann on Glamour Girl (Photo by Sportfot)Von Eckermann, who has held the top show jumping ranking in the world for 30 consecutive months, had the advantage of being last to go over Olaf Petersen, Jr.’s speed course, and he used that advantage to finish in 64.40.
Nayal Nassar of Eqypt on Linguini de la Pomme was clean in 64.80 to place second, less than half a second off the winning time, and he was also third on Dorado de Riverland, clean in 65.92.
“I saw Nayel, and he started off on a slow pace from fence one to two,” Von Eckermann said of the then leader, who went approximately 40 rounds before him. “He had 10 strides then seven and then 10 so I knew I could go easy nine, six, nine. I was a little ahead of him, so I took my time to the second to last and rode forward to the last one. That’s the good thing about being last to go, you know exactly what you have to do. For me, I was fortunate to have that starting number today.”
Glamour Girl has won at WEF in the past, which was also on their opening day of jumping four years ago, so Von Eckermann knows the mare feels at home.
RIDERS AND horses alike are happy to be back on the grass at WEF.
With a string of newer mounts in Wellington for the season, Von Eckermann is leaning on his experience with Glamour Girl, who has won all over the world and has been part of his team for about five years.
“She’s a competitor in the ring,” he said. “She’s unbelievable; she’s won so many classes throughout her career. She knows her job, she goes in the ring and knows it’s time. She feels really well so I want to keep her on the grass as long as I can.”
Though he has a top contender for many of the big weeks in Glamour Girl, he also has a worldwide favorite joining him in Florida.
“King Edward is coming tomorrow,” he said of his World Champion and World Cup Finals winning mount. “I have a bit younger group and then I have King Edward and Glamour Girl who are more experienced, so it’s a mix, but I think it’s perfect. I live by Robin Parsky, and she’s the one who makes this possible for me so I’m grateful for that. I’m looking forward to this season.”
When asked how he’s feeling, Von Eckermann replied, “Good, especially with a win. I’m happy to get out of the cold for a little bit. Europe is wet and cold at the moment. The only thing I’m missing is my wife and son but they are coming in two weeks to visit.”
Earlier on the grass field, Vanessa Hood won the $6,000, CSI3* 1.40m on Cascalretto.
To start the day in the International Ring, 14-year-old J.J. Torano on Vitus K won the $10,000, 1.45m National Grand Prix Qualifier.
Torano, who won the Medal Finals in Harrisburg last fall as the youngest rider to ever win that championship, is now making his mark against some of the top riders in the world.
Torano was clean in 30.605 to beat Canadian Olympian Erynn Ballard on Coline de Will, clean in 31.991,
