The world number one earns new ranking points, top positions and big money. The visit home to Sweden, one of the few during the season, was long-awaited and is so far really successful.
— I always feel good when I come home to Sweden. The Swedish public is always fun to ride in front of, he says.
So far, he has given the spectators value for money – regardless of whether he is riding the championship horse King Edward or the lesser-known Dzara Darchival. The ten-year-old mare has gone from strength to strength lately.
This morning’s victory in the 1.50 jumping was the second during the weekend. In addition, the team came second on Saturday.
— She has really developed. The owner who bred her is here and it’s extra fun that it went the way it did this weekend. She is a horse with a big heart. In a few months I think I can ride a big Grand Prix with her, says von Eckermann.
The reigning world champion gave the rest of the starting field something to bite into when the crew rode in flawlessly in a time of 63.86 seconds. Only Briton Scott Brash was close to threatening, but he was 20 hundredths too slow.
This afternoon awaits the sporting highlight: the Grand Prix jumping over 1.60 hurdles.
— Now comes the main class, which is the most important. I have to try to keep it together. King Edward felt good yesterday and that strengthens confidence, says von Eckermann to SVT.
Last year he snubbed the victory. The German Christian Ahlmann was eleven hundredths faster.