OCALA, Fla.--Nicola Philippaerts of Belgium on Derby de Riverland won the $120,000 Winning Round CSIO5*-LLN in the League of Nations at the World Equestrian Center – Ocala on Friday, March 21.
Nicola Phillippaerts on Derby de Riverland (Photo by Andrew Ryback)Philippaerts had also won Wednesday's Grand Prix Qualifier.
The Winning Round format had the top 10 riders advance to the deciding second round.
With 18 from the 44 horse starting field going clean over the track set by Irish course designer Alan Wade, the top 10 were decided based on time.
Those returning came back clean, with only their performance in the second round used to determine the final standings.
Returning eighth in the order, Philippaerts cut every turn, finishing clean in 38.73 seconds to go into the lead with only two to go.
Last to go,Janika Sprunger on Tullogher Lady Liberty was clean, but her time of 39.79 left them a full second behind Philippaerts in second, and Marc Dilasser of France on Arioto du Gevres was third in 39.98 seconds.
Former Olympic champion Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil had been the first rider to go clean pm Major Tom, and his time of 1.77 seconds placed him fourth.
Mathijs van Asten, who will make his nations’ cup debut riding for The Netherlands in the League of Nations in Ocala, was fifth in 42.25.
“HE'S IN amazing form here this week,” said Philippaerts of Derby. “He really likes it here in Ocala. My horse is naturally pretty quick, so I always try to keep the pace up for the first round, and he jumps a little bit better. I had a good position for the second round, so I could see a little bit of what the others were doing and make a plan for the jump-off. I was a little long off the last jump, but he carried me over, and I was very happy to win with him again.
“It means a lot for me,” said Philippaerts of his second win of the week with the horse his younger brother, Thibault, rode to team gold and individual silver medals at the 2002 European Young Rider Championship. “He’s a great horse. He’s been in incredible form this week, and it’s always nice to be able to compete and to go for the victory. I think he really showed again today that he’s very fast, and he’s so clever. I’m very happy that I’m able to ride him.”
