Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – April 28, 2006 - It is 25 years since Mohammed Ali beat George Foreman in the historic "Rumble in the Jungle" boxing extravaganza in Zaire, Africa and this weekend show jumping's top competitors face up to each other in another exotic battle. The billboards in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia welcome visitors to "The Jungle in the City" as the theme for the FEI World Cup Final and although riders smiled into the cameras, waved to the crowd and shook hands politely after the first of the three final competitions in Putra Stadium last night you were only seeing surface reaction. Underneath there was a low, purring sound as the tigers were preparing to pounce......

Many of them have traveled halfway around the globe to get here and it has been a long, hard road since the first qualifying leg in Helsinki, Finland last October. They've earned their stripes and will not want to have made the tiring trip in vain. Very quickly the cream has come to the top but its still early days - tonight's jump-off competition and Sunday's final class could bring some dramatic changes.

Marcus Ehning was the first-day victor and in his usual self-effacing manner glossed over his advantage in the aftermath of the speed competition. He described himself as "quite positive for the next few days" and said "I hope my horse holds his form until Sunday" after the big bay Sandro Boy floated into pole position, pouring over the fences with the fluidity and smoothness of hot chocolate. Sandro has often been too extravagant in his jumping technique, costing the German rider valuable fractions of seconds as he spent so much time in the air, but he has learned to become a little more economic and it was his rider's innate ability to find a rhythm and maintain it all the way that saw them come out on top yesterday. When it comes to today's bigger jumping and Sunday's last test Sandro should be even more in his element, so the 2003 World Cup champion could be forgiven for feeling quietly confident.

Switzerland's Beat Mandli was no less impressive when slotting into second with Ideo du Thot who seemed to be ambling around the 12-fence track when stopping the clock in a super-fast time. He admitted that he had not put his horse under any real pressure and knows he has plenty left in the tank for the next two challenges. Ideo's incredibly long stride will be key to his success along with the extraordinary coolness of his rider but the real battle may well be played out between the next two best-placed contenders.

Reigning champion Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum from Germany and Ireland's Jessica Kuerten have been squaring up for a showdown for some time now. Meredith has been flying the flag for the ladies at the top of the world rankings over the last few years but Jessica's meteoric rise in recent months sees her lying second in the World Rankings. They've been saying very nice things about each other - Meredith suggesting that Jessica is a real favourite to take the title while Jessica has described Meredith as "unbeatable" - but the courtesy is put on the back-burner and the gloves go on before they ride into the ring.

The surprise package of course could be Alois Pollmann-Schweckhorst because if his mare Candy copes with the course-building demands there's not a pluckier creature on the start-list. This German partnership were fifth on the opening day when the 14 year old mare was looking typically matronly - her girth would suggest that she doesn't altogether like hard work but if you've every seen her go you will know that looks can be deceptive. She's like a cruise missile in Alois' hands and there is nothing these two enjoy more than throwing down the gauntlet with a big grin on their faces.

The magic slot is sixth however according to Meredith who pointed out after Thursday's class that the winner has come out of this position on the starting blocks after the first final test over the last three seasons. So America's Margie Engle may be the chosen one then after her good early performance with the Jus de Pomme gelding Quervo Gold. However breathing down her neck is Britain's Michael Whitaker and his mare Insul Tech Portofino who was looking positively smug after her tour of the track yesterday. Michael was denied the win last year when Meredith won through and Marcus Ehning shared third spot with fellow-countryman Lars Nieberg so the British rider has a score to settle. As the battle recommences today the question about who will be left licking their lips and who will be left licking their wounds will begin to be answered.....

PHOTO CREDIT: Margie Engle of the United States and Quervo Gold at the World Cup Finals in Malaysia. High resolution copies of this image are available by contacting Peter Llewellyn of Phelps Images at peter@horsesourceltd.com