Fouaad Mirza completes MERs to confirm place in Tokyo2020 equestrian competition

Asian Games equestrian silver medallist Fouaad Miza has confirmed his ticket to Tokyo2020 by completing the Minimum Eligibility Requirements in finishing second and third on Seigneur Medicott and Dajara 4 respectively in CCI44*-Long eventing competition in the Baborówko Equestrian Festival 2021 in Poland this weekend. 

On a day when competing the MER was a priority, it did not seem to matter that on his jumping tests with either mount, a dropped fence meant that he could not double his joy by holding on to the top two positions from the first two days after the Dressage and Cross-country Tests. The way he handled the pressure of completing the MERs was confirmation of his mettle.

Sweden’s Aminda  Ingulfson (Hot Cup VH) had a clear round to win the top prize by 0.1 point from the Fouaad Mirza-Seigneur Medicott combination, which logged 35.8 points while the Fouaad-Mirza-Dajara 4 pair finished third with 36 points. That both pairs were competing in their maiden CCI4*-L event was not in evidence at all.

On Friday, Fouaad Mirza topped the Dressage tests. In fact, combining with Seigneur Medicott, he scored 29.0 and with Dajara 4, he scored 30.0 to secure the top two slots in the 30-rider competition and set himself up nicely for Saturday’s tough cross-country runs. But deep down, his supporters knew that it was going to be a big day.

The 5700m cross-country course presented the horse-rider combinations with 41 jumps across  29 obstacles and offered them 10 minutes in which to achieve a clear round. It was vital that he collected no penalties at the obstacles to remain on his way to securing the Minimum Eligibility Requirement (MER) in the CCI4*-L competition.

In the event, Fouaad Mirza complete a clear round on Seigneur Medicott, picking up 2.8 points as time penalty for taking 7 seconds more than the stipulated 10 minutes time. Combining admirably with the 15-year-old Bay Gelding, Fouaad Mirza handled their maiden CCI4*-Long cross-country challenge with aplomb, making light of the tough nature of the course.

There were two reasons for some trepidation. 

First, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) rules for the Olympics specify that all rider-horse combinations must secure an MER result at a CCI5* event or one CCI4*-Long and one CCI4*-Short event each. Fouaad Mirza secured MER scores on both his mounts in Strzegom Spring Open II, a CCI4*-S event, last month and needed to complete it in the Polish village.

Second, neither rider nor the two horses had the experiencing of competing in, let alone completing, a CCI4*-Long event.  Team Fouaad Mirza not only worked hard at getting Seigneur Medicott back into competitive shape but also ensured that the horse would tackle the cross-country course without any inhibition or hesitation.

Earlier in April, the Fouaad Mirza-Seigneur Medicott combination was withdrawn before the cross-country test in the Strezgom Spring Open, a CCI3*-S event. But barely a fortnight later, the Gelding showed resilience in the CCI4*-S event at the same venue and securing the MER despite a slight hesitation on the cross-country test.

On Saturday, Fouaad Mirza went one better on Dajara 4, clearing the course without any penalties and two seconds faster. It helped him retain the top two positions in the CCI4*-L competition held in not only on a demanding course but also in changing and challenging weather.

The Embassy International-backed rider, who trained his focus on the Olympic Games almost as soon as he (and Seigneur Medicott) claimed silver in the 2018 Asian Games, was a relieved man at having overcome the challenge of doing well in arguably his toughest competition yet. Qualifying for the Games may have been a piece of cake compared to securing the MERs.