Olympic champion Steve Guerdat outdid the opposition in the second round of the FEI World Cup Jumping Final ©FEI

Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat showed exactly why he is the Olympic champion after coming out on top in a gripping second round of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) World Cup Jumping Final at the Thomas & Mack Arena in Las Vegas.

The 32-year-old rider and his 12-year-old mare, Albufuehren’s Paille, outdid the opposition with a superb run after just six of the 32 starters had qualified for the jump-off against the clock on a difficult course.

The home supporters had plenty to cheer about with four of the six to jump first-round clears flying the United States flag.

The 2013 champions, Beezie Madden and Simon, filled second spot ahead of Lucy Davis and Barron in third, while the 2012 champions, Rich Fellers and Flexible, finished fourth.

Moving further down, Norway’s Geir Gulliksen and Edesa S Banjan lined up fifth ahead of America's McLain Ward and Rothchild in sixth.

Guerdat’s tour of the track was extremely smooth as the mare who had helped him win the Western European League qualifying series with a last-leg victory in Gothenburg last month, broke the beam in 32.87sec to take the lead.

When, last to go, Flexible hit the first fence, Fellers was only challenging for a strong four-fault result as he raced home in 32.80 seconds.

Steve Guerdat's performance was befitting of an Olympic champion
Steve Guerdat's performance was befitting of an Olympic champion ©Getty Images

Guerdat and Fellers now share the lead on a zero score, closely followed by Ireland’s Bertram Allen, winner of last night's opening competition, carrying just one penalty point, while Penelope Leprevost from France is next in line with five.

The Longines FEI World Cup Jumping title is one that has eluded Guerdat, but he is keen to put that right in the title decider on Sunday (April 19).

“In 2012 I went into a jump-off with Rich and he won, and in 2013 it was a jump-off with Beezie and she won, and then last year I was leading going into the final day and I messed up again” said Guerdat.

“We will have to see which horses recover best after the last two days."



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