When you make your debut in a Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ qualifier, of course you dream of winning it, but how many people make that a reality? Well, Mexico’s Jose Saavedra Garcia did exactly that on Saturday, January 28, claiming the top spot in the feature Longines North American League qualifier in Puebla. And, even more incredibly, Saavedra Garcia and Maximus jumped the only clear of the entire competition!
They left in their wake last year’s winners Manuel Gonzales Dufrane (MEX) and Hortensia van de Leeuwerk, who slotted into second with the fastest four faults. Saavedra Garcia’s trainer Arturo Parada Vallejo claimed third on Bacot for an all-Mexican podium, with Denmark’s Nikolaj Hein Ruus and Bordeaux in fourth. And the field also included the top ranked Mexican Nicolas Pizarro, and the current national champions of Mexico, Federico Fernandez (MEX) and Davidoff.
Saavedra Garcia made his international debut at San Miguel de Allende in May of last year when he competed in three classes with Maximus and, less than a fortnight later, the duo jumped their way into the winners’ enclosure at the Puebla venue at only their second show together. Returning to San Miguel last October, Jose and Maximus won the CSI 2* Grand Prix. After the stunning Longines win at the weekend, Saavedra Garcia has now notched up 11 top 10 placings in 21 starts with the 13-year-old Oldenburg stallion son of Quidam de Revel.
Saavedra Garcia is 689th in the Longines Rankings and 126th in the FEI U25 Ranking, but the maximum 20 points from the weekend victory has now put the 24-year-old 14th in the North American League standings.
Check out the full FEI stories on Jose’s brilliant win here and here and savour the winning round on FEI Facebook. The full class results are available here
After seven qualifiers hosted by PAEC members, the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League winds up at Ocala (USA) on 19 March 2023
paec.info 