Kraut rules with sole clear

US multi-medallist shows that “form is temporary, class is permanent” with her win in the grand prix on the quirky Bisquetta, while Britain's Rachel Proudley takes the puissance

- By PIPPA ROOME

LAURA KRAUT claimed victory in an unusual Rolex grand prix when she won with the only clear round.

“Dublin is on your bucket list of classes to win – I cannot tell you how thrilled I am,” said the 59-year-old US rider, whose last five-star grand prix win was over two years ago.

When Laura and Cherry Knoll Farm Inc’s Bisquetta started as the penultimate combination to go, 11 pairs had finished the course with four faults, so it looked as though they would jump-off to decide the honours.

But Laura showed all her class and experience when she piloted the 11-year-old mare round with determination and precision to record the only fault-free performance.

“You don’t expect one clear to win and I didn’t aim for that,” said course-designer Alan Wade. “I don’t think I’d have done anything different. Maybe some will think we should have had 10 in the jump-off, but with lighter material you can get softer faults. Sometimes you get one or two go clear, or I’ve had it go all the way up to 17. It’s not an exact science.”

Alan joked that he blamed Shane Sweetnam, who was second to go with James Kann Cruz and ended up third with just the orange oxer over a water tray at fence three down.

“When I did 12.2hh pony qualifiers, you needed someone to settle the rest and if he’d gone clear, we’d have had eight or nine in the jump-off!”

Laura added: “Alan’s right, we were not settled – I was sick to my stomach watching.”

She said Bisquetta has a lot of quirks, but not around riding: “She’s terrified of other horses – mostly she’s terrified of their tails. If they swish their tails, she likes to run away!”

Faults were well spread.