FRANKE SLOOTHAAK, show jumping's world champion and team gold medallist at the last two Olympic Games, gave Germany an impressive double at Spruce Meadows when winning the Cana cup, following compatriot Ludger Beerbaum's win in the Prudential Steel.
Trevor Coyle and the stallion Cruising, originally named on the Irish squad for Calgary, took the Cana cup 12 months ago, but were unable to defend their title as the horse was withdrawn only hours after being named on the team at Dublin last month.
Dutch-born Sloothaak, who took German nationality in 1979, was part of Germany's gold medal team in both Barcelona and Atlanta. But the 38-year-old was forced to retire in the first round of last month's team decider after falling from San Patrignano Joly and leaving the Olympic arena with blood pouring from his wrist.
The injury was inflicted by a stud from Joly's shoe but, after stitching, Sloothaak was able to return to the fray and produced a clear round at the second attempt to help the Germans retain their Olympic team title.
Sloothaak was again teamed up with the 10-year-old Joly for his Cana cup challenge and the pair comfortably beat the target set by first man in, Belgium's Ludo Philippaerts with his winner on opening day, Trudo Krawaat.
The Germans now start favourites for today's 300,000 Canadian dollars Nations Cup, although their firepower has been somewhat dampened with the loss of Ulrich Kirchhoff's double gold medal ride Jus de Pomme and the temporary side- lining of Ludger Beerbaum's brilliant partner Ratina.
The Irish were victorious at Spruce Meadows last year and, although the team is certainly not as strong for today's contest, it boasts three of the squad that gave the British a serious run for their money in the Aga Khan, missing out by a frustrating fractional time fault in the final analysis. The Irish team for today's Bank Of Montreal sponsored feature will be Peter Charles (Beneton), Commandant Gerry Mullins (Millstreet Ruby), Captain John Ledingham (Kilbahn) and Eddie Macken (FAN Schalkhaar).
