AACHEN, Germany--Laura Kraut on Baloutinue delivered another top performance, finishing second with three clean rounds in the 1.5 million Euros Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen CSIO5* on the final day of elite international competition in Aachen.
Laura Kraut on BaloutinueMartin Fuchs of Switzerland on Leonie Jei won, with Steve Guerdat of Switzerland on Dynamix de Belheme finishing third.
The Grand Prix was a two round class, with the top 18 qualifying for round two and then all those clean in both rounds qualifying for the jump-off.
Mclain Ward, who had said winning the Aachen Grand Prix for the first time was his goal, had a fence down in the first round on Imperial HBF, while Kent Farrington on Greya, Lillie Keenan on Fasther and Kraut all qualified for round two.
Farrington had a rail down in round two,leaving Keenan and Kraut as two of the 11 to qualify for the jump-off.
Keenan went fairly early in the jump-ff and had a rail down to finish sixth in 51.44.
That was Keenan's third top 10 finish of the week, along with having one of only five double clears in the Nations Cup.
She also was awarded with the Aachen Style Award, presented to the week's most stylish jumping rider.
"I told her she should certainly have won the stylish award since she won the Maclay with me judging," said chef d'equipe Robert Ridland.
THERE WERE eight fences in the jump-off, but the penultimate obstacle, a double combination, proved to be the trickiest question of the course.
That was where the riders had the most faults, including Olympic gold medalist, Christian Kukuk on Checker and Richie Vogel, who had both fences down on United Touch S.
Fuchs had already gone when Kraut, who was last to go, went, and he had taken the chance of running to that double.
That chance worked out and he finished clean in 50.29.
Kraut said she had already decided not to run at the double before she went.
"I am very pleased with second place. For me, when there were 11 of the fastest riders in the world in the world, I thought this might not go well. As the last rider to go, I knew the golden double before the last was the jump to clear quickly," said Kraut. "It was very difficult, and most people were quick until they got there. Instead of taking the risk, I stuck to my original plan, and I am pleased with Baloutinue, and where we finished today. It's been a great week for the United States, and feel like we're ending the week on a high note."
Fuchs won on 50.29, with Kraut second in 52.41 and Guerdat third in 52.59.
Stephen de Freitas Barcha of Brazil on Chevaux Primavera Imperio Egipcio was the only other to finish clean in the jump-off and was fourth in 54.33,
Nina Mallevaey on Dynastie de Beaufour was fourth with four faults in 50.02, and Keenan was sixth with four faults in 51.44m while Farrington finished 15th place overall.
