Jonathan Holling (USA) became the first FEI World Cupâ„¢Eventing qualifier winner of 2007 when he jumped one of only two clear stadium rounds in the final phase at Red Hills, Tallahassee, northern Florida (USA) at the weekend.

Holling, 30, riding Lion King ll, on whom he finished 16th in the 2006 FEI World Cupâ„¢ final at Malmo (SWE), rose from third place after cross-country to win on a final score of 52.

Darren Chiacchia (USA), fifth and best American in the final last year, had led the first two phases on Windfall ll, the German stallion on whom he won team bronze at the Athens Olympics, but had two rails down to drop to third (57.1).

Chiacchia was also 12th with a cross-country run-out on his new ride, the Swedish-bred Better I Do It, who was produced in England by Dag Albert (SWE).

Phillip Dutton (USA), making his first international appearance under the American flag – the 2006 FEI World Cup™ rankings leader switched nationality from the Australian team this winter – retained the runner-up spot on Tru Luck with one fence down (54.3).

Unsurprisingly, the dual Olympic gold medallist was fastest man across country. None of the 20 cross-country starters achieved the optimum time – and only three had penalties in single figures – but Dutton came closest with 2.8 penalties.

Former skier Bonnie Mosser (USA), who made a successful Burghley debut last year on Jenga, finished fourth (72.6), ahead of Stuart Black (CAN), fifth on Fleeceworks Starlight (72.6), and the very experienced Karen O’Connor (USA), sixth on the tiny Upstage (74.9).

All but one competitor – Sandra Donnelly, who was eliminated on Buenos Aires – completed the cross-country, which is British designed and built, by US team trainer Capt Mark Phillips with Hugh Lochore, and winds around the arboretum in ecologist Colin Phipps’s 120-acre horticulture park.

Next weekend the FEI World Cupâ„¢ series, which will have a final in 2008, moves to Fontainebleau in France, whose riders were so dominant in the 2006 final.