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SEA News
Newcomer Sweeps the Competition at the 2006 SEA World Cup Jumping Qualifier #1.
By Vicky Roycroft
Jul 11, 2006

Kim Sung Whan on Hanra

What a pleasure it is for me to return to 3Q Equestrian Centre for their 9th World Cup event. I have been to quite a few now, and every time it is a better show. This year saw the debut of the brand new footing in the main ring that was the work of Oliver Hoberg, who was responsible for the wonderful footing at the highly successful World Cup Final conducted by Asia Promote earlier this year.

Also I believe this year the Organizing Committee had record entries, with the good work done by the Ambak family, the SEA World Cup committee and Asia Promote principals Peter Imran and Wan Zaleha Winton ensuring that the standard of show jumping in this part of the world has absolutely rocketed in the past few years, with a creditable 19 starters in the World Cup class.

Regrettably, previous stalwarts and winners Helena Gabrielson and Toni Leviste were absent this year, with Helena being in the US at this time, and Toni feverishly searching for a replacement for her superstar mare, Maktub.

But welcome new competition has come in the form of experienced rider Kim Sung Whan, who brought 3 horses from Korea, all for the world Cup, and at the other end of the experience scale, Indonesia's Putri Hamidjojo, who made an exciting World Cup debut with a 5th placing on her 7 year old mare, Fabiene. Putri has 3 lovely horses, and is one of the region's most promising and dedicated riders.

Gaelle Tong (HKG) on Capital Star

This year, almost resident Course Designer, Werner Deeg was unable to attend, having a prior commitment to build at the prestigious Spruce Meadows Tournament in Canada. His place was taken by Joseph Maler from Germany, who was perhaps not as familiar with his job here as Werner has been. The first Big Tour class was won in a jump off by the marvelous little thoroughbred, Capital Star, ridden by Gaelle Tong, one of the very strong contingent from Hong Kong, that have also seen their standard improve enormously under the management of Stuart Mitchell. Kim Sung Whan was 2nd and 3rd on two of his three Australian thoroughbred horses.

The next day's Big Tour was an Accumulator, and despite his experience, Kim Sung Whan was unaware of the Joker fence, and sailed around clear on 2 of his 3 horses, but not attempting the Joker, white, wavy planks set at 1.45.

A few of the riders were relieved that he was unaware of the rules, but no one could deny Hong Kong again, when kenneth Chang jumped a copybook round on his experienced campaigner Jaybee Schultz to win comfortably from Hong Kong’s (again!) Charlotte Morse 2nd and 3rd on the Dutch bred O'jasper and Lanceretto.

The previous day's Accumulator just might have been a little tough, as many of the horses didn't jump as well in the World Cup, which saw a lovely track well up to a 1.40 standard, but produced no clear rounds, with the 4 faulters, Opium Metado (Qabil), Hanra (Kim Sung Whan) Capital Star and Open Treasure (Magali Tong) jumping off.

Qabil Ambak (MAS) on Opium Metodo

Qabil led off with a beautiful clear, with him riding as well as I've ever seen him on this sometimes technically problematical, careful horse. Qabil is obviously benefiting with time now spent with Dermott Lennon. Kim Sung Whan needed all his vast experience, including an Olympics, to shave less than 1/2 a second of Qabil's time when also jumping clear. Magali on Open Treasure took a bit of a wild line on the turn up to the bright yellow and black vertical, 4th fence in the jump off, and paid the price with a run out for eventual 3rd place, then Capital Star, a little horse that is all heart, looked a bit tired to pull 2 rails and slot in 4th.

Putri on the young Fabiene pulled the first fence and the third, but otherwise jumped all difficult lines well to come in 5th, to come in faster than Kenneth Chang, also on 8 faults, but having big problems with the brakes in this class who was 6th, and the slowest of the 8 faulters, Kim Sung Whan again, 7th.

Putri Hamidjojo (INA) on Fabienne

The final event, the Young Rider Ch'ship saw a great field, and good competition, with the 8 clears providing a fast jump off. Winner was Thailand's SEA Games rider Sira Konglapmanuay.

In the other Tours, Malaysia's Andika on Penrose Witchetty and the Philippines Matteo Lorenzo on Rhythm dominated the first 2 placings in all 3 classes of the Small Tour between them. The medium Tour saw the prizes split a bit more, with Malaysia's Amir Zulkefle on Desert Wind winning on the first day, then Hong Kong's Nicole Pearson on Happy King the jump off round on Day 2, then a great display of economical speed riding saw Putri on Goldina win the Table C on Day 3.

All in all great sport, and still another 5 World Cups to come. Things can only get better...