Boyd Exell is about to celebrate his 50th birthday. He is looking forward to continuing the legend in a few weeks' time at the FIM Carriage Racing World Cup Finals in Leipzig, Germany.
The Australian "Champion of Champions" and nine-time World Cup winner can't wait to return to the arena to fully enjoy the European winter carriage indoor race, once again amazing fans. The World Cup carriage race followed four races, and the enthusiasm of the spectators prompted Exel and his opponents to contribute their best performance.
While disappointed by the cancellation of the race in Bordeaux, France, this weekend, Xel is 50 years old in July, and he is confident that he and young Dutch driver Bram Chardon will have an exciting showdown with the upcoming finals in April.
Exel told THE FIMA: "We are all hopeful about the leipzig race and I think this year everyone is very focused on the race and there is real enthusiasm between the athletes and the horse fans. ”
"It's going to be an exciting final because both I'm in good form with Bram. I think who will prevail in the end will largely depend on the layout of the route. ”
Since 2009, "King of Kings" Exel has won the World Cup finals nine times, and his career has been challenged by many opponents, including Dutch driver IJsbrand Chardon, who won the title in 2016. But Bram Chaden, the son of the young driver and the elder Chaden, who has recently risen, poses undoubtedly the greatest threat. He won the Carriage Racing World Cup in Geneva, Switzerland, last December, ending Exel's unbeaten run since 2007, and Bram competed in the play-offs at the 2019 Carriage World Cup finals, when he became the youngest overall carriage racer in history at the age of 25. By the 2020 Finals, Exel was once again taking the title back.
It was Exel's famous victory in the 2020 Finals...
Top team
After trying different horse combinations in the races, Exel plans to lead the main squads Barny, Nimrod, Bajnok and Rocket to Leipzig. Barny, one of his Wheelers, had a minor surgery after suffering breathing problems at the Lyon race and is now back on the team after missing a few races.
This season, Exel expanded the strength of his horse team, directly due to Barny's absence and the retirement of right-wheeled runner Demi. Demi is a star horse that helped Exel win the world cup finals at the latest FIMA Carriage Racing World Cup two years ago.
Exel tried new horses such as Mad Max and Poker during the races, but last year's disappointing results in the outdoor race in Aachen reminded him that big races are not the place to experiment.
Exel said: "I've run two new horses this season and the squad has changed slightly for each race, but I should have had my A team in the final. ”
"During the race, my team moved a little slowly to the right, but I don't want that to happen in the final."
Exel was shocked that Exeler's old rival Isbran Chaden did not qualify for the Leipzig Grand Finals. But the old Chaden's son, the young Bram, will face him head-on. In addition to this, Exel also noticed another of his competitors.
Dutch driver Koos De Ronde has also been in good form this season, but the tragic death of one of his war horses has taken a toll on his preparations. Exel recently spoke with Ronde, who is recalibrating his plans for Leipzig after suffering losses.
"It's a real tragedy and a great pity because Kuss's team looks good," Exel said, "and Cus says he's just trying to get a place on the podium right now and see how it goes." The problem is Bram and I'm going to go all out for victory and you never know what's going to happen there. Maybe we'll all make mistakes and Cus will get first place there. ”
Looking to the future
Exel is aiming to win the "tenth crown" in the World Cup finals of the FIR Carriage Racing in Leipzig a few weeks later. Following his last championship, which was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and wildfires in Australia, Exel finally returned to Australia in early 2022 after three years to visit family and friends and relax. Traveling to Australia, an experience that is always relaxing and enjoying for Exel, he can do the water sports he loves and take a break from years of horse racing.
Exel returned home refreshed, and after two difficult years, he was preparing for the upcoming World Cup finals in Leipzig, Germany, and the FIMA Carriage World Championships in Pratoni, Italy, in September. His desire to achieve glory has not diminished in the slightest: Pratoni was the place where he first competed in the FIMA World Equestrian Games about 24 years ago, when he was only 26 years old. Now 50 years old, he still gallops the races of horse-drawn carriage racing and is eager to continue to succeed.
"The last two years have not affected my love of driving sports," he said, "and we are the driving force of competition, so we need some goals and effort." Whatever the future holds, even when I stop competing, this feeling is already written in my veins. As for retirement, I'll wait until the time comes. ”
Text: Richard Mulligan
Chinese platform