BEGA carriage driver Boyd Exell is already in the running for yet another Federation of Equine International (FEI) World Cup.
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After two rounds, Exell leads the competition following round wins in Stuttgart, Germany, and Stockholm in Sweden.
Exell is already the standing World Cup champion, with five wins under his belt.
He has also been the world champion three times, winning international events in the US, Germany and at the World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France.
Launching his latest World Cup campaign at the event in Stuttgart, Exell topped the field after two thrilling rounds.
The Netherlands’ IJsbrand Chardon finished runner-up, while German driver Cristoph Sandmann finished third.
With a strong new lead horse Poker, organisers said Exell went to the event a little too confident to give up some time penalties.
However, the small penalty did not endanger his score after setting a blistering pace.
Organisers said the second round Swedish course was a unique event, with drivers having to navigate around three sets of cones, where two is usual.
One of the strongest contenders for the event, and European champion, Theo Timmerman had a disastrous round on the unusual course.
He dislodged nine balls from the cones and suffered a 45 point penalty on his round.
Exell fared better, but also gave up two five point deductions in the fastest section of the track.
With a narrow 10-point advantage, Exell had to compete in drive off for the final places.
A third-place finish for Belgium’s Glenn Geets was a welcome end, as it marked his first podium on the World Cup tour.
Exell’s apprentice Frederik Personn, of Sweden finished second moving up in the drive off.
Meanwhile, Exell topped the competition with his drive off round increasing his lead.
The third round will also be held in Sweden and the competition will decide the World Equestrian World Athlete.
The title is decided from the four disciplines hosted by the FEI: driving, three-day eventing, jumping and dressage.
Exell has been short-listed to the final four in the standings for the prestigious award.