Switzerland’s Barbara Schnieper galloped the rest into oblivion to win the Sergio Grasso Accumulator with Joker to get the final day of Jumping Verona underway this morning at Jumping Verona 2024.
Riding the hot and hasty 14-year-old mare Judy KM she set a super-fast target time of 43.57 seconds when seventh to go, and not one of the remaining 45 competitors could get home below 44 seconds.
It was Spain’s Eduardo Alvarez Aznar who eventually slotted into runner-up spot with D’Orient Batilly when crossing the line in 44.48, while Germany’s Sophie Hinners finished third with Nuraya 3 in 45.29 seconds. Fourth place went to Belgium’s Jordy van Massenhove with Konita HX, fifth was Brazil’s Marlon Modolo Zanotelli with Curiano van Maarle Z Marathon and Italian star Lorenzo de Luca slotted into sixth with Carlson 86.
No choice
For Schnieper going fast with Judy isn’t a choice. «You cannot ride slowly with her but she is super and a bit special!», said the 42-year-old rider. The pair are consistently successful and posted a 5* win at St Gallen, Switzerland at the end of May.
Telling Judy’s story, Schnieper said «I have her since she was five years old, then she had a foal and then she came back to jumping». They know each other well, and Judy’s enthusiasm for her job doesn’t phase the lady who lives near Basel in Switzerland.
She said today’s course suited the mare, «but when I finished I thought others would be faster, I didn’t think I was fast enough». However as it turned out their scorching round could not be bettered.
Finishing spot
Schnieper looked set to take another prominent finishing spot with her second ride, Toronto Raptor, until hitting the final Joker fence. This 12-year-old bay gelding is by the famous dressage stallion Totilas. “Yes this is dressage breeding but he cannot go “dressaging” – he is much better to jump!”, Schnieper insisted with a laugh.
She was thrilled with today’s win and is now looking forward to this afternoon’s feature event, the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ qualifier in which she will start 18th of the 40 competitors riding the 11-year-old mare Canice.
«It’s my first time in Verona and it’s very nice here», she said.
First into the ring at 14.30 local time will be Gregory Cottard from France riding Cocaine du Val and last to go will be Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander with Fellow Castlefield.
Results HERE
For video CLICK HERE
For the gallery CLICK HERE
