Show Jumping World Cup Finals Daily Report by Carol Dean-Porter

RODRIGO THREEPEAT!

Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil and Gandini Baloubet du Rouet set a world record with their third consecutive World Cup title in Las Vegas today.

This pair had a perfect score of zero faults throughout the four rounds of competition. Baloubet only touched four jumps in all four rounds. This is even more impressive considering that on Monday the horse was running a fever of 105 degrees. By Thursday he was feeling great and jumping in top form.

Gandini Baloubet du Rouet is an 11 year old chestnut Selle Francais stallion by Galoubet A. 

Today's competition featured the top 26 qualifiers from rounds one and two with point totals converted to faults on a sliding scale. The 26 competitors jumped a very large Grand Prix course with a number of jumps set at the maximum height of 1.6 meters.

Faults from this round were added to the fault totals from the previous rounds and the top 20 finishers jumped the final round over a similar but shortened course. Faults from this final round were added to each individual's score to determine a final fault total.

Rodrigo gave a demonstration in classically beautiful equitation over Conrad Homfeld's large, demanding and technically difficult course. The sell-out crowd in the Thomas & Mack arena gave him a standing ovation as he galloped around the ring waving his hat in the air after landing from the last jump.

Second place went to Swiss rider Markus Fuchs and Tinka's Boy, an 11 year old Dutch stallion by Zuidpool. This pair won the second phase on Friday and finished with a total of 7 1/2 faults. They turned in beautiful flowing rounds.

Third place went to Swiss rider Beat Mandli and Pozitano, an 11 year old Rheinlander gelding by Polydor. This horse was the only entry in the top 26 who shows with no running martingale. Mandli had a total of 10 faults.

Fourth place went to popular German rider Ludgar Beerbaum and Goldfever, a 9 year old Hannoverian stallion by Grosso Z with 11 1/2 faults. This horse jumps in classically beautiful style and Beerbaum is impressive in his demonstration of excellent body control in the air.

Fifth was Ludo Philippaerts from Belgium riding RBG Otterongo, a 9 year old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Darco. This horse is impressive with his sheer strength and power. They had a total of 14 faults.

Sixth was a tie between U.S. rider Todd Minikus and Oh Star along with Irish rider Peter Charles and Traxdata Amber du Montois. Both riders had 19 faults.

Oh Star is a 9 year old Belgian Warmblood stallion by Laudanum and made spectacular efforts to clear the rails including a twisting effort over 9A in the final round which brought excitement to the audience.

Traxdata Amber du Montois is an 11 year old Selle Francais mare by Abdullah. She has an unorthodox jumping style with a spectacular hind end.

Young U.S. rider Schuyler Riley finished in eighth place with Ilium, a 10 year old Dutch gelding by Zuidhorn. Ilian appeared tired in round 3, but rallied with only 1/2 time penalty in round 4 to finish with 19 3/4 faults.

Two riders who had very bad luck in round 3 were Canadian Mario Deslauriers, who was standing 5th, and had a fall in the corner. This eliminated the pair from the competition. British rider Geoff Billington and Virtual Village It's Otto went off course at the third fence for elimination.

Starting order with carry-over faults/round 3/round 4/totals

Clover Leaf/Leslie Burr Howard/USA/21/8 /4 1/4/ 33 1/4
Maloubet/Hap Hansen/USA/20 1/2 /8 3/4 /4 1/2/ 33 3/4
Royal Discovery/Samantha McIntosh/BUL/19 1/2 /0 /8 / 27 1/2
Deichgrefin/Carsten-Otto Nagel/GER/19 1/2/ VW
Silwa Little Gun/Helena Weinberg/GER/19 1/2 /4 /1/2 / 24
Robinson/Richard Spooner/USA/19 /17/ 36/ OUT
Mania Jolly/Taizo Sugitani/JPN/18 1/2 /8 /4 / 30 1/2
Lancier 4/Jimmy Torano/USA/17.5/ VW
Hidden Creek's Perin/USA/Margie Goldstein-Engle/16 1/2 /4 /4 / 24 1/2
Inter Access De Sjiem/NED/Jergen Dubbeldam/15 1/2 / 8/ 4/ 24 1/2
Virtual Village It's Otto/Geoff Billington/GBR/15 1/2 / 4/ ELIM
Loro Piana Las Vegas 116/Gianni Govoni/ITA/15 1/2 / 16/ 31 1/2/ OUT
Ireach Iceberg/Carry Huis In 'T Veld/NED/15 / 8 / VW
Traxdata Amber du Montois/Peter Charles/IRL/15 / 0/ 4/ 19
Oh Star/Todd Minikus/USA/14 1/2 / 0 / 4 1/2 / 19
Dobel's Padarco/Otto Becker/GER/13 1/2 / 1/4 / 8 1/2 / 22 1/2
Marco/Megan Johnstone/USA/12 1/2 / 20 1/2 / OUT
Lux Z/Jerry Smit/ITA/12/ 16/ 8 1/4 / 36 1/4
Ilian/Schuyler Riley/USA/10 1/2 / 8 3/4 / 1/2 / 19 3/4
RBG Otterongo/Ludo Philippaerts/BEL/10 / 4 / 0 / 14
Chopin 045/Ralf Schneider/GER/9 1/2 / 4 / 12 1/ 4 / 25 3/4
Le Madro/Mario Deslauriers/CAN/8 1/2 / ELIM
Goldfever/Ludgar Beerbaum/GER/7 1/2 / 4 / 0 /11 1/2
Pozitano/Beat Mandli/SUI/5 1/2 /4 / 1/2 / 10
Tinka's Boy/Markus Fuchs/SUI/3 / 4/1/2 / 7 1/2
Gandini Baloubet du Rouet/Rodrigo Pessoa/BRA /0 /0 / 0