Kürten steers Libertina to fourth place in World Cup opener

JESSICA KÜRTEN sat down to dinner last night in Kuala Lumpur and reflected on a superb performance that saw her place fourth in the first round of the World Cup.

The result primed her challenge for the title and, as usual, she credited her horse: “Libertina was really great. I was aiming for a top five, so to finish fourth is brilliant. I just hope I have not taken too much out of her and that there is something left in the tank for the rest of the weekend.”

The competition was a one-round speed class, with faults translated into seconds. The German-based Antrim rider was impressive, Lady Georgina Forbes’s 10-year-old mare equally so, jumping so big and spending so much time in the air, there were fears it would cost Kürten time. They proved unfounded: the clock showed 61.25 and a new leader.