FEI Budweiser World Cup Jumping Final

Germany's Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum got the best of the draw for the opening competition at the FEI World Cup Jumping Final in Las Vegas, USA but her husband Markus found himself at the other end of the spectrum and will be first into the ring on Thursday evening.

Runner-up at the 2004 final in Milan and winner of the Top-Ten final in Geneva last December, Meredith was already a strong favorite even before being drawn last of the 41 starters in Thursday evening's speed event.

However in the city where gambling is the name of the game few are dismissing the chances of some other front-runners including three-time World Cup title-holder Rodrigo Pessoa from Brazil, drawn 19th with the on-form Baloubet du Rouet, and Britain's Nick Skelton whose results with John and Lisa Hales' Arko have been so very impressive over the past 12 months.

The arena at the Thomas and Mack Centre in Las Vegas will be packed to capacity for the four-day fixture. The decision to run both the dressage and jumping World Cup finals at the same venue concurrently has clearly paid off with more than 100,000 tickets already sold and the crowds poured in today (Wednesday) to watch the warm-up sessions ahead of tomorrow's more serious action.

The line-up is heavily weighted with top riders from the Western European League including reigning champion Bruno Broucqsault from France who pulled off a real surprise in Italy last April but the Arabian, Canadian, Japanese, Pacific and Central European leagues are also represented while the home side fields a total of 11 horses and riders and cannot be discounted.

America's record at World Cup Jumping finals remains unchallenged to date, with a total of seven victories since the series was initiated by Max Amman in 1978.

It is remarkable to note that all three lady riders who claimed the title carried the stars and stripes on their saddle cloths - Melanie Smith in 1982, Leslie Burr Lenehan in 1986 and Katharine Burdsall in 1987. There has been an 18-year gap since Katharine's success with the gloriously handsome and aptly named The Natural but the USA has now produced another generation of female show jumping stars and with riders like Kimberley Frey, Laura Kraut and Lauren Hough flying the flag the 2005 final could see American girl-power flexing its muscles
once again.

However the big money is on Meredith - American-born but riding for Germany and right at the top of her game.

Thursday's test is about speed, accuracy and registering a good place on the leaderboard - if you get left behind at this stage it is extremely difficult to claw your way back - Friday's jump-off competition asks for bigger jumping and Sunday's third and final leg - the Grand Prix - will decide the new champion.

In the glittering entertainment capital of the world the stage is set for a thrilling finale to the 2004/2005 FEI World Cup Jumping series.

THE ORDER OF GO FOR THE FIRST COMPETITION AT THE 2004/2005 FEI WORLD
CUP JUMPING FINAL IN LAS VEGAS IS AS FOLLOWS:

1, Markus Beerbaum (Ger);
2, Hubert Bourdy (Fra);
3, Gabi Salick (USA);
4, Steve Guerdat (Sui);
5, Candice King (USA);
6, Georgina Bloomberg (USA);
7, Tina Lund (Den);
8, Jill Henselwood (Can);
9, Lauren Hough (USA);
10, Grzegorz Kubiak (Pol);
11, Jessica Kuerten (Irl); 12,
12, Philippe Leoni (Fra);
13, Richard Spooner (USA);
14, Schuyler Riley (USA);
15, Eric Van der Vleuten (Ned);
16, Richard Davenport (GBR);
17, Anne Kursinski (USA);
18, Ludger Beerbaum (Ger);
19, Rodrigo Pessoa (Bra);
20, Alois Pollmann-Schweckhorst (Ger);
21, Gunnar Klettenberg (Est);
22, Eric Fleming (Bel);
23, Ibrahim Bisharat (Jor);
24, Joie Gatlin (USA);
25, Michael Whitaker (GBR);
26, Kimberley Frey (USA);
27, Marcus Ehning (Ger);
28, Ludo Philippaerts (Bel);
29, Eric Lamaze (Can);
30, Akihiro Okabe (Jpn);
31, Laura Kraut (USA);
32, Marco Kutscher (Ger);
33, Lars Nieberg (Ger);
34, John Cottle (NZL);
35, McLain Ward (USA);
36, Abdullah al Sharbatly (KSA);
37, Nicole Simpson (USA);
38, Ales Opatrny (CZE);
39, Nick Skelton (GBR);
40, Bruno Broucqsault (Fra);
41, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (Ger).