Katrin Eckermann defends her Grand Prix victory in Miami

They did it - made the almost impossible possible: Katrin Eckermann and her only ten-year-old mare Cala Mandia (by Capistrano) successfully defended their title. In the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Miami, the winners of 2022 did not give the competition a chance this year and jumped on top of the podium.
Only seven pairs out of 39 starters completed the Grand Prix course at the Atlantic Ocean without a fault. Among them were David Will with the eleven-year-old gelding My Prins van Doperheide (by Zilverstar) and the defending champion Katrin Eckermann. In the jump-off, David Will and his grey horse were by far the fastest: After 39.14 seconds, the two reached the finish line. And it would have been the victory, had it not been for the last pole.
The Spanish rider Eduardo Alvarez Aznar mastered the jump-off course with Bentley de Sury (by Sunday de Riverland) without any faults - after a quick 41.22 seconds, the two took the lead. Until Katrin Eckermann stole the show from the Spaniard and lapped him after only 40.26 seconds. Could it go any faster?

Maikel van der Vleuten and his Olmypia partner Beauville Z N.O.P (by Bustique) tried, but in the end the time of 41.35 seconds was 'only' enough for third place. Fourth place was secured by 65-year-old Margie Goldstein-Engle with her Diarado son Dicas, ahead of David Will in fifth place.
Katrin Eckermann was beaming after her renewed victory in the Sunshine State: "Winning at my Global Tour premiere last year was already totally unbelievable. And to do it again like this is really touching emotionally," the winner said happily after her triumph.
Hans-Dieter Dreher and Elysium dropped out of the placings with a clear round. Jens Baackmann and Caja (by Clarimo) also finished with only one down. Christian Kukuk and the Emerald-daughter Nice van't Zorgvliet lost two poles. The GP was not as smooth as the day before for Christian Ahlmann and his Solid Gold Z (by Stakkato Gold). The pair finished the course early.
Daniel Deusser and Philipp Schulze Topphoff did not qualify for the Grand Prix.

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