Some success at Fountainbleau (FRA)
Lucinda Fredericks and Headley Britannia After their Dressage Test at Burghley 2006 Photograph:Lucy Matthews |
Nicholas Touzaint managed to stymie Australian hopes of a trifecta in the third stage of the World Cup at the CIC*** in Fountainbleau at the weekend, winning on Galan de Sauvagere and finishing fourth on Hethi Bey.
Finishing with a clear round in 81 seconds, he won the competition with a total of 46.40 points. Last to go, he stayed cool from the very beginning of his round. Indeed before he entered the arena, he knew that he had a little bit of leeway and that he could finish with four faults.
"Entering the arena and knowing that you have the possibility of having 8 faults on the round without it penalising your final result, is always more reassuring. Once I had jumped the first two obstacles, I felt relieved. I really felt that my horse was completely focused and was jumping extremely well. It was up to me not to make any mistakes. It is true that the three other rounds with my other horses who were participating helped me. They allowed me to take stock of the situation. And I was able to remember the course well."
Lucinda Fredericks and Headley Britannia moved up from sixth after the dressage to second place, and Clayton Fredericks and Nullabor moved up from ninth to take third. In fifth place was Andrew Hoy and Master Monarch.
Jean-Lou Bigot and Icare d'Auzay, who followed Touzaint closely with 3.5 penalties more after the cross-country event, had 12 faults on the show-jumping course. This put him back to the 7th position.


