9 February 2025 at 18:30

CAIW Final - FEI Driving World Cup™ Final by LAITERIE DE MONTAIGU

Driving World Cup Final: Boyd Exell's turn.

Since 2018, the FEI Driving World Cup FinalTM has alternated between Netherlands'Bram Chardon and Australia's Boyd Exell.

After Chardon's victory in 2024 (by 83hundredths!), it was Exell's turn. A great Exell, who won his eleventh title in Bordeauxon Sunday, beating young Belgian Dries Degrieck (29) by eleven seconds, for the firsttime on a final podium. Koos De Ronde saved the honour of the Netherlands as Bram(4ᵉ) and Ijsbrand (5ᵉ) Chardon struggled to keep up with the pressure; both were leftout of the drive-off.

Happy with another title, Boyd Exell was keen to dwell on one ofhis four horses in particular:

“I am really delighted that the left leader Bundy (Bajnok)has done his hundred and first victory today out of a 114 starts, I don’t think that thereis another World Cup horse – dressage or showjumping - that has that statistic. He is22 and he will tell me when he is ready to retire, it is on my mind all the time, but theway he was flying today, he was still the fastest horse in the group with muchyounger horses, so I don’t think he is ready. He is in amazing condition, his heart isstrong. We tried to replace him. We tried ten or twelve horses coming into the line-upto take over but they’re just not as good.”

Somethingtells us that the Jumping International de Bordeaux will see other driving finals.