Världsettan: "Känslan att det blir tuffare i år"

Henrik von Eckermann och King Edward rider världscupfinalen i Riyad onsdag till lördag. Arkivbild.

Han vill hemskt gärna vinna en andra gång.

Men i det längre perspektivet är veckans världscupfinal underordnad högsommarens besök i Versailles slottspark.

OS är och förblir årets sportsliga höjdpunkt för Henrik von Eckermann.

King Edward, som han vann OS-guldet i lag och VM individuellt och i lag med, har matchats mot finalen i Riyad. När uppdraget är utfört får hästen en lång tävlingsledighet.

– Jag vill alltid ge honom runt fem veckor inför en stor tävling. Det vill jag inte rucka på. Innan Paris vill jag också ha runt fem veckor.

– Han går inte på gräs och det är många grästävlingar framöver. I stället får han en lång och bra vila efter världscupfinalen. Det är bättre för den plan jag har inför OS. Om jag håller mig till den vill jag bara göra två tävlingar till inför OS på honom, säger von Eckermann.

Oklart med Stockholm

Risken finns att den svenska publiken inte ser honom i Global Champions Tour på Stockholms stadion sista helgen i juni.

– Det står och väger mellan Stockholm och en annan tävling veckan innan. Jag har inte gjort mitt “final call” än.

Ekipaget har samlat på sig en rad, i världsettans ögon irriterande, andraplatser på sistone.

– Man vill alltid vinna, men hästen har varit i fantastisk form, jag har känt mig helt okej och fortsätter vi på en väldigt hög lägstanivå kommer en fullträff igen någonstans.

Han vet vad som krävs, han vet hur man gör, men han är också fullt medveten om att det behövs mer än en topprestation i Riyad för att det ska bli lika roligt som i Omaha förra året.

Då vann Henrik von Eckermann som första svensk finalen.

– I år är min känsla att det blir tuffare. Ska jag vara ärlig hade jag litegrann marginalerna på min sida förra året. Det tror jag inte att jag kommer ha i år om jag vill vinna. Det gäller att vara med från början och hela vägen.

Tror på Épaillard

Konkurrensen är skarp.

– När jag tittar på startlistan är det väldigt svårt att tippa. Det är nog runt tio som kan vinna.

Världsettan pekar ändå ut fransmannen Julien Épaillard som ryttaren han måste slå.

– Julien är väldigt vass och motiverad inför finalen. Han har prickat formen. Han är nog min favorit.

Han varnar även för landslagskompisen Peder Fredricson som rider den 18-åriga skimmeln Catch Me Not.

– De sista tio GP-tävlingarna har det varit många nollor. Hästen är lite äldre men har varit i fantastisk form.

En häst för OS?

– Absolut. Varför inte? Jag tror aldrig jag sett hästen i en så stabil form som den har varit ett tag nu.

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