Mikael and Isaac placed 6th in the 100.000€ Rolex Grand Prix on Thursday and qualified for the Mercedes Swiss Masters, which was to be jumped on Friday. The Grand Prix was won by Ludger Beerbaum. Mikael was able to beat Ludger's time, but took un unfortunate rail in the jump-off. On Friday Mikael and Isaac repeated the performance and took another top placing, by placing again as 6th in the Mercedes Swiss Masters -class.

Sunday: Mikael and Isaac placed 2nd in Zurich World Cup

World Cup in Zurich

Mikael and Isaac du Jonquet crowned their weekend in Zurich and placed a fabulous second in the World Cup.

Zurich was the arena where the Finnish jumping sport probably took again a small step forward towards the international absolute top. 

There were a whole 15 horses and riders in the jump-off of Zurich's prestigious and tough World Cup round. According to Mikael and many others, it was a more a sign of the high level of the competitors than an ease of the course.

- In fact I guess this was the biggest course all season so far, although London felt even tougher, probably due to the very small arena, Mikael commented.

Mikael started as fourth to the jump-off and managed to establish a very fast time, eventually defeated only by one rider.   It must have been a successful run, as the remaining horses and riders all seem to be at least one stride slower than Mikael and Isaac. Well, that was fastest until Jessica Kürten came and took all the risks with Libertina and still nailed it.

- We managed exactly what I've planed and I doubt we would have met Jessica time even in a second attempt. Jessica took huge risks in the jump-off and in her favor was also the fact that Libertina has a very time-saving and fast way of jumping. I'm absolutely happy with the second place, Mikael told.

But it was not only the World Cup we need to notice. This weekend has been the most successful ever for Mikael and Isaac together. They took top placings in all three classes they started in, with all classes being money-rich FEI World Ranking classes. First we had the important Zurich Grand Prix on Thursday and then the top 15 riders decided the Mercedes Swiss Masters on Friday. Mikael and Isaac placed sixth in both classes. And then no less than a second place in the Zurich World Cup round!

Isaac is nowadays staying at Stal Tops in the Netherland, the home for all the top horses of Mikael and Noora. It's a place where Jan Tops and his professional team take the utter best care of the horses' wellbeing and managing Mikael's and Noora's sport careers.

- We have now been doing a fantastic indoor season and the co-operation with Stal Tops seems to have brought the added value to our sport, we hoped for. I cannot name any specific things we would do now otherwise than before, but there is a certain new "we-can-do" mentality to all of it. We believe in our training and the necessity of doing hard work without cutting corners, and we believe and are believed in regards to our plans.
- When we had Friday eve already two successful classes with Isaac in big classes, Jan had us immediately prepare to take no less than a top-3 placing on Sunday, Mikael explained the mental attitude of doing things.

The goals for the indoor season are crystal clear at this point; Mikael is riding for a Las Vegas ticket, the arena for the World Cup final.

If we last year had a fabulous, dreams come trough indoor season, with the historical World Cup win and then eventually a place in the finals, we certainly want to go the again. And this year we do it simply because we can, Mikael said in a spirited voice.

A ticket to Las Vegas is available to the top 18 riders from this league. The next round is jumped in Bordeaux, France, 2 weeks from now.

Results and start lists from Zurich:

1. Zurich LIVE