Richard Vogel has a Saturday night feeling aboard United Touch S

Richard Vogel waded through the crowd’s demands for Saturday Night Lights’ selfies after winning the $385,000 FEI 5* Grand Prix in week seven of the Winter Equestrian Festival in style aboard United Touch S.

Saturday night feeling! Richard Vogel and United Touch S wowed the crowd. Photo: Sarah Eakin

“All those Saturday night classes have a very special atmosphere,” said Richard. “To win a five-star Saturday Night Lights class is a very special feeling and it doesn’t happen very often.”

Thirty nine went in the International Ring before a capacity crowd, but only four emerged with clear rounds to qualify for the jump off. “The Saturday Night Classes are all competitive – it doesn’t matter if it’s three, four or five star level,” said Richard. “Just before the five-star weeks, everyone’s bringing out their big guns and everyone is motivated. There’s some great riders, a lot of great horses here – some very good combinations so to win in this strong field means a lot.”

Richard had the advantage of going last of the jump off quartet, after Ireland’s Darragh Kenny set the bar jumping clear with VDL Cartello in a time of 46.14. McLain Ward came next with Callas, and knew he had his work cut out with Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam on James Kann Cruz, and Richard still to jump.

“With both of these guys coming after me, I didn’t think I could do the numbers that they were maybe capable of doing,” he said at the post presentation press conference. “I did everything I could. There was nothing left.” His time of 42.39 proved good enough for second place, after Shane finished third with 45.53 on the clock.

Podium finish for l to r McLain Ward, Richard Vogel and Shane Sweetnam. Photo: Sarah Eakin

Richard pulled off the crowd-pleasing final round of the night with a ride that had plenty of animation and risk-taking in the 42.04 seconds that it took to complete. “I had nothing to lose to catch the time,” he said. “And obviously I had to risk a lot – if I caught a rail I would have been fourth so the tactic was quite simple. I tried to catch McLain and I was lucky I went after him.”

Scope and stride was the winning combination for United Touch S and Richard Vogel. Photo: Sarah Eakin

He was helped in his quest by the scope and giant stride provided by United, a 12-year old Westphalian bay stallion. “United has a massive stride – even bigger than some other bigger striding horses,” said Richard. “I’ve ridden a lot of horses in my life – a lot of good ones too, but he’s outstanding. He’s in his own league. When he takes off the ground it’s something so special.”

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