Contact:
Diana De Rosa for Phelps Media Group, Inc.
at (561) 753-3389 or at pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com

Philippaerts and Pessoa Blaze to Victory....a special report by Diana DeRosa for PhelpsSports.com

Estoril, Portugal - July 22, 2006 - On Saturday, July 22, it seemed like the calm before the storm. There were two International classes, one at 1.45m and the other at 1.50m. While the classes were quite competitive there were some riders who opted not to compete, undoubtedly saving their horses for the big one - the Global Champions Tour which is scheduled to take place on Sunday, July 23 in the late afternoon.

IN THE 1.45m THEY JUST KEPT GETTING BETTER

The 1.45 meter class was one of those competitions any show organizers hopes for. Out of a starting field of 47 horses 8 made it to the jump-off, including U.S. rider Megan Lamaze after a brilliant first round on Ollandaise.

"In the first round I thought the course was really nice and good for my horse," commented Megan. Yet even when she had 8 faults in the jump-off Megan was not dismayed.

"I was just happy I went clear in the first round. I knew there would be a fair amount in the jump-off. She was improved from yesterday. Any time you go clear that is a step in the right direction. The jump-off didn't go my way but if you don't try you don't win."

Fellow countryman Robin Sweely's horse Coming Star proved he was given the right name. He jumped the moon and finished on one time fault. And they did this even with a slight burp in the plans. Just before Sweely was about to go the electricity went out. They screamed down to her from the tower but just as quickly as it went off it was back on again and so was she.

"I bought this horse when he was four turning five and so we developed together. We fit each other. He always knows where I am and I always know where he is. Of course I wish I hadn't had the time fault. The jump-off was fantastic and I don't know that he would have been ready to go with these guys," said Robin about Coming Star.

When that jump-off took place the lineup of riders who had qualified read like a who's who. First in was Ellen Whitaker, who finished on a four fault round. Next was Megan with her 8 faults. "1-2-3 she jumped great and then I rolled back to the double and I'm not sure. She sort of swam through it and jumped the rest fine," explained Megan.

Those were the last rails that would fall. Next in was Daniel Deusser riding Issis du Marais for Germany, who posted a time of 39.12 seconds, followed by ponytail girl Judy Ann Melchior (42.37) on Olympic Z. Now the race was about to begin. Jean Claude van Geenberghe on Osta Rugs Coronation posted a time of 38.82 seconds and took over the lead. Then Robert Smith on Marius Claudius beat out Geenberghe when they totaled 37.59. Smith was so fast that his time seemed impossible to beat until Ludo Philippaerts proved that it could be done on Up to Date Mill Too. In the end his time of 36.61 would prove unbeatable by the final rider in the jump-off. Michel Robert aboard Koro d'Or. They finished in 36.66 seconds.

Philippaerts was pleased with his round. "It was very quick. I knew if I was going to win I had to go like I went. I had no other chance."

He was also proud of his horse. "I thought he was unbelievable. My horse risked a lot today. He's not the horse to jump the big grand prix but in the small grand prix he is really unbeatable."

Philippaerts goes into this fourth event on the Global Champions Tour at the top of the rankings but he knows "there are still three more to go and it can change quite a lot. It is a really big competition here."

Philippaerts will compete on Parco. This will be Parco's last show before going to compete at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen in Germany next month. Just like everyone entering Sunday's class, Philippaerts is hoping for a victory. If this week is any indication he just might be in luck. This was the second day in a row that he won. In Friday's class he won the 1.50 meter on Parco.

"It is a very difficult sport. It is not always easy. The only secret is you have to work for it. Top sport is very difficult. For us it is two - it is the horse and the rider we have to both be fit. When you have a top rider and don't have top horses there is nothing you can do. You have to have good horses, good owners and good people around you at home."

For now Philippaerts is thinking about the penultimate event - the Global Champions Tour and has only one plan. "I just hope my horse is good and conditioned - we will see what the day brings us."

Michael Morrissey did not compete Crabamboli today as he opted to save him for the big day knowing the horse has only so many jumps in him for this week. Sweely is hopeful that things will continue the way they did today.

Megan is ready for a tough day in the Global Champions Tour but with the support of Olympic veteran Conrad Homfeld she's feeling a bit more confident.

"Tomorrow's going to be a big class. It's going to be difficult for sure. The GCT in Palm Beach was enormous. It's a lot of work and very hard but that is what we come here for.

"I look at Conrad and get real scared and he says you'll be fine. He always knows how to make your feel comfortable. He just makes you feel confident going into the ring."

POWER & SPEED IN THE 1.50 METER A VICTORY FOR PESSOA AND CANTATE Z

The 1.50m class was a Power & Speed and only those without fault in the Power part moved on to the speed and they were few and far between. It wasn't until the 18th rider in the order that Rodrigo Pessoa and Cantate Z posted the first clear go. That round would ultimately win the class with the fastest time of 26.22 seconds.

Only two other riders were able to negotiate a totally clear round. Luciana Diniz on Dover finished second on their time of 27.98 and Thomas Fruhmann riding The Sixth Sense was 3rd (29.51). Fruhmann was the winner of the Global Champions Tour event in Monte Carlo.

The course for this second day of competition was a bit tougher than the prior day with a lot more technical questions. A liverpool in the power portion eliminated a number of the riders as did the very first fence. The position of the first fence was right past the gate and it was a bold green wide oxer.

Throughout the round a number of riders voluntarily withdrew especially after they had rails down undoubtedly opting to save their mounts for the final day of competition. Among those that retired was Michel Hecart aboard That's Life, winner on the first day

Both the VIP area and the general seating were more crowded than the day before but there is still room for more people to enjoy this well showcased event and it is anticipated that Sunday will be a sell out crowd. In today's audience was Athina Onassis de Miranda, who will be competing on Sunday in the 1.45 meter class.

Well, only one more day left to find out who will claim the victory in the fourth Global Champions Tour. It truly could be anyone's day.

Class 4 "JUST WORLD INTERNATIONAL"International Jumping Competition - Tour A-FEI Art. 238.2.2 Table A 1m45 with one jump-off Small Grand Prix

RESULT

1-71UP TO DATE MILL TOO - Ludo PHILIPPAERTS (BEL)0.00 0.00 36.61

2-106KORO D'OR - Michel ROBERT (FRA)0.00 0.00 36.66

3-10MARIUS CLAUDIUS - Robert SMITH (GBR)0.00 0.00 37.59

4-82OSTA RUGS CORONATION - Jean Claude VAN GEENBERGHE (UKR)00-38.82

5-17ISSIS DU MARAIS - Daniel DEUSSER (GER)0.00 0.00 39.12

6-70OLYMPIC Z - Judy-Ann MELCHIOR (BEL)0.00 0.00 42.37

7-54AK KANSELIER - Ellen WHITAKER (GBR)0.00 4.00 41.95

8-5OLLANDAISE - Megan LAMAZE (USA)0.00 8.00 46.51

9-75AL FARAS RIAMO - Franke SLOOTHAAK (GER)1.00 72.08

10-23FROMECS HERMINE D'AUZAY - Daniel ETTER (SUI) 1.00 72.48

11-84JADIS DE TOSCANE - Philippe ROZIER (FRA) 1.00 72.51

12-4SUZIE QUATTRO - Luciana DINIZ (POR)1.00 74.49

Class 3 "CM CASCAIS" International Jumping Competition - Tour A -FEI Art. 274.5.3 Table A/A 1m50 Two Phases

RESULT

1 52 CANTATE Z -Rodrigo PESSOA (BRA) 0.00 26.22

2 49 DOVER - Luciana DINIZ (POR) 0.00 27.98

3 20 THE SIXTH SENSE - Thomas FR=FCHMANN (AUT) 0.00 29.51

4 77 GALET D'AUZAY - Michel ROBERT (FRA) 4.00 26.97

5 104 LEGURIO - Franke SLOOTHAAK (GER) 12.00 31.56

6 110 EXQUIS RODENBURGH'S COLORADO - Harie SMOLDERS (NED) 4 43.80

7 38 VDL GROEP FLECHE ROUGE - Leopold VAN ASTEN (NED) 4.00 47.06

8 22 LEVISTO Z - Judy-Ann MELCHIOR (BEL) 4.00 47.65

9 103 LORIOT -Gregory WATHELET (UKR) 4.00 47.99

10 62 RONALDO - Robert SMITH (GBR) 4.00 48.15

11 3 QARCO VT MERELSNEST - Robin SWEELY (USA) 4.00 48.58

12 136 QUINAULT-Mikael FORSTEN (FIN) 4.00 50.84

PhelpsSports.com is coming in August!!!

Join the family now and save 10% off of the regular price for yearly and lifetime memberships. Visit www.phelpssports.com