EQUESTRIAN: Germany's Helena Weinberg scorched to a sensational win in yesterday's World Cup qualifier at Olympia, taking on the sport's best and wiping the floor with them to scoop the £18,500 winner's purse.
The British-born jockey, who has been riding under the German flag since 1987, celebrates her 40th on New Year's Eve, but she earned herself an early birthday present when coming off best in a thrilling 13-horse jump-off.
In front of a packed house filled with British supporters, Michael Whitaker set the early pace with the ex-Trevor Coyle ride Portofino, snaking his way round Frank Rothenberger's seven-fence decider to stop the clock on 36.84 seconds.
"I thought I might be beaten," Whitaker said afterwards, "but I certainly didn't think I'd end up fourth." But the lone British hope was almost instantly relegated by Ludo Philippaerts, the Belgian whose time fault cost him individual gold at this year's European championships in Donaueschingen four months ago.
Philippaerts nailed the turn that Whitaker had missed after the double and, with the brilliant stallion Parco jumping out of his skin, hurtled through the finish in 35.59 to snatch the lead.
But he too was destined for only a brief stay at the top. Four rounds later, Helena Weinberg galloped into the ring and, even though she has been living in Germany since her marriage in 1986, still elicited roars of support from the usually partisan crowd.
Twice a winner of the Olympia Grand Prix, Weinberg had never managed to lift the World Cup event at the British show. Until yesterday, that is. With the nine-year-old stallion Kasting Horses Gavi revved up and ready to rock as hard as Weinberg's rock-star brother Bruce Dickinson, the lead singer with Iron Maiden, she set off at racing pace and never lifted her foot from the gas. With a superb turn to the third from home, she had Gavi back across the finish line in 34.52 and the crowds roared their approval.
"He's naturally fast and cool in difficult situations, so I knew he wouldn't panic turning back after the double, but he's probably the best horse I've ever had so I knew I could risk it. It's just nice the other lads all went so slow," she said with more than a touch of irony.
But Weinberg couldn't afford to rest on her laurels, as reigning World Cup champion Marcus Ehning was next into the arena on the 17-year-old superhorse For Pleasure.
As always, the striking chestnut cruised round effortlessly and came within .28 of Weinberg's target, with Ehning blaming himself for the deficit. "Normally he could beat any time, but his problem today was me. I was just too slow at the first two fences and I couldn't make up the time."
Dutchman Jan Tops, winner of Friday's pre-qualifier, was last to go, but the mare Roofs kicked out three fences and Tops opted to retire her, leaving Weinberg out in front, shading Ehning and with Philippaerts and Whitaker in close formation behind.
Missing from the start list was Irishman Peter Charles, who had already made the decision not to run It's Magic Max in the class after two disappointing results in the early classes.
The horse was obviously unhappy, which Charles put down to an abscess in a hind foot that had reared its ugly head on Wednesday lunchtime.
Although Magic Max was sidelined for the rest of the fixture, Charles had planned to stay on with his two speed horses Luigi and Aerobic but, after a fall with Aerobic minutes before the start of Friday's Puissance, Charles decided that home in Hampshire looked a far more welcoming proposition and called it a day.
Results in SPORTS ROUND-UP
