AACHEN, Germany--McLain Ward on Callas finished second to Germany's Richard Vogel on Cepano Baloubet in the Prize of Europe, the second biggest individual class at Aachen, on Wednesday, July 3.
McLain Ward on Callas (Photo by Devyn Tretheway)Ward, who won this class last year, went before Vogel, who went ninth in the 12 horse jump-off so kknew what he had to beat.
Earlier in the day, Ward on First Lady had finished fifth in a big Two-Phase class, where a rider jumps the first course of eight or nine fences and the goes straight into the speed phase over the following fence.
The Nations Cup, the most important classof the week, is at 1:10 tomorrow, July 4.
“You’re always trying to win but when the top horses perform the way we saw tonight, it’s going to be difficult, but for my mare, she jumped spectacularly and has been having a great summer," said Ward. "I’m not disappointed, but when you’re second you always want to do one place better, but Richie is a super-fast rider and a very fast horse and I think I made it not so easy for him tonight,” said Ward with a smile.
“I’ve learned a lot by watching Ritchie and we’ve worked together a bit and developed not only a great professional relationship but a really great friendship and that’s what sport is all about. It makes us all better as competitors and I’m just proud to have had some influence on his career,” said Ward.
“I THINK the courses here are always very challenging and amongst the riders we always say this is the second hardest class of the show, to be frank," said Ward. "It was a good course tonight for my horse because she’s experienced and there were a few bold jumps early that really made her focus and kind of kick into gear, which was great,” explained Ward. “I’m thrilled with my horse, and it was a great night of sport. I think I came to Aachen for the first time 30 years ago, not to date myself, and it just never gets old.”
Vogel is on a roll - in four competitions so far this year he has won one and come twice three times.
When Vogel entered the ring, the spectators started to clap rhythmically and cheered him on. It wasn’t hard to guess who was the crowd’s favourite on Wednesday evening.
Vogel’s took advantage of the natural speed and agility of his chestnut gelding and finished clean in 42.44 seconds, an incredible 1.62 seconds faster than Ward and Callas, although no one would have believed their time could be beaten.
Vogel kept pointing at his four-legged partner as if to say: “He deserves the applause”.
“I watched McLain and I know that when he is front he is difficult to beat," said Vogel. "That put me under a bit of extra pressure. I was almost slightly too aggressive and didn’t ride everything as perfectly as I had planned. And he helped me out today.”
“The atmosphere in this class with the floodlights and all the spectators is simply incredible," he said. "This is the first class where all the riders want to be in best form. There is a special atmosphere even in the warm-up area. And when you ride into the ring, it is even more intense. That makes us fly even higher.”
McLain Ward came second with a time of 44.06 seconds.
While Vogel was spending the winter in Wellington, he trained with Ward.
“There is nothing I could possibly still teach him," said Ward.
“I hope that wasn’t the last rosette we collect here,” Vogel said.
Ward on the other hand sounded very decisive regarding his plans for the rest of the week: “That Richie comes second.”
Jana Wargers finished third with the Oldenburg-bred mare, Dorette, just one hundredths of a second slower than Ward and Callas.
“We have the two fastest riders here and they were in the lead," said Wargers. "I knew it was going to be difficult. Furthermore this is the horse I am riding in the Grand Prix on Sunday. So, of course I did try, but I didn’t want to overdo it.”
Katie Dinan on Atika des Hauts Vents had a single time fault after crossing through the finish in 83.04 seconds, which placed her 13th as the fastest single fault round.
Laura Kraut on Bisquetta had eight faults.
