Nicola and H&M Chilli Willi keep on shining in Doha. After a 3rd place in the first leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour last week, they now managed to climb up to a 2nd place in the Grand Prix of the CSI 5* Concours Hippique International Al Shaqab, Right after Pieter Devos and Espoir.
After a few relaxing days, Nicola and Chilli Willi started their next mission in Doha. Today was the big day: Grand Prix time. It all went smooth: Nicola was one of the 18 riders that could ride the 2nd round. Only 3 riders rode a clear 2nd round. Once again, Nicola was one of them, together with Pieter Devos (Espoir) and Emanuele Gaudiano (Chalou).
These three had to compete with each other one last time in a thrilling jump-off to decide the winner. Nicola and Chilli Willi were first to start. And they did it again, they rode a third perfect round. Gaudiano was second to go, but he got one fence down. All eyes on Pieter then… He beat Nicola as he finished 2 seconds faster.
Nicola and H&M Chilli Willi rode 6 Grand Prix this season and all of them spotless. “Chilli Willi jumped really strong again.”, analyses Nicola. “The two months of rest he got did good to him. He already proved himself really strong in Oliva, he confirmed that last week again during the Global Champions Tour en kept on shining today. He’s now one year older and grew a lot since last year. He really doesn’t want to make a mistake. He’s so good and fresh, it gives me a boost for the rest of the season.”.
