GERMANY’s Marcus Ehning partnered Comme Il Faut to a stunning victory in the sixth leg of the Longines FEI World Cup Western European League in Madrid, Spain, last Sunday. The three-time FEI World Cup champion sealed victory in the thrilling jump-off with one of his trademark rounds against the clock.

Forty horse and rider combinations started over Javier Trenor’s track and nine managed to make it through to the timed round. Ehning was chasing a time of 43.98 seconds, set by Frenchman Kevin Staut and the Dutch-bred gelding Aran. However, Ehning took what seemed to be an impossible turn back inside to the last fence to stop the clock in the winning time of 43.56.

The 11-year-old Westphalian stallion is by Cornet Obolensky and his dam is the wonderful Ratina Z, who won the World Cup title 23 years ago with Ludger Beerbaum in the saddle.

FAMOUS PARENTS

Speaking about his spectacular round, the 42-year-old said: “I didn’t have a good shot to the vertical (second-last) so I knew I had to make that turn if I wanted to win! He has famous parents and he’s an incredible horse, you can see he is clever and careful and he did a super job in the jump-off - I’m really proud of him.”

Britain’s Scott Brash was in third place with Hello M’Lady (0/0 44.04), while Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum finished fourth aboard Casello (0/0 47.91).

LYNCH FIFTH

Ireland’s Denis Lynch was first to go with the big jumping All Star 5 and the Tipperary man produced a clear round in 48.17 seconds, which was good enough for eventual fifth place, earning him €9,300 in prize money and valuable World Cup points.

Kevin Staut’s second place finish sees him jump to the top of the Western European leaderboard with 56 points, while Lynch moves to 11th on 25 points, one place ahead of Meath’s Cian O’Connor on 22. O’Connor was also in action at the Spanish venue but finished the first round on eight faults with Good Luck. Offaly’s Darragh Kenny also finished with two fences down on Go Easy De Muze.

Kenny picked up two placing’s with Charly Chaplin S in 1.45m classes at Madrid Horse Week. In Friday’s Mitsubishi Trophy, Kenny guided the nine-year-old gelding around in a time of 58.87 seconds to finish fourth in the class of 48 starters, which was won by Spain’s Eduardo Alvarez Aznar and Fidux (57.12).

The combination picked up an identical placing in Sunday’s Coca Cola Trophy to post a quick clear in 49.28 seconds. That class was won by Dutchman Maikel van der Vleuten and VDL Groep Quatro (48.34).