Eleven-time World Cup champion Boyd Exell (AUS) is always tough to beat behind the reins of his four-in-hand team. But his competition had to have hope that a broken foot might slow the world no. 1 driver down in Stockholm this past weekend.

And they would be wrong.

Exell and his talented team lead by 22-year-old Bundy defended their title in Sweden with a decisive wins in the drive-offs on Friday and Saturday in the Friends Arena, producing two double clears on Saturday to win decisively in a time of 156.88 seconds. With a broken left foot.

“At the weekend I wrestled with an arena door and lost, and damaged my foot  But the horses were so incredible and really looked after me as they could feel that I wasn’t as confident as normal,” he said. “But once they settled into their rhythm, they were just beautiful.”

That team included new to his team last year Katydid Duchess next to mainstay leader Bundy and the reliable wheelers Mad Max and Barney. “These horses are so clever, so fast and so agile and I can only say thank you to them. Because when you have the fastest racehorse or the fastest indoor team in the world, you just have to look after them,” he continued.

Exell is now four for four in World Cup qualifier starts and wins this season, taking Lyon, Masstricht, Stuttgart and now Stockholm. Hot streak aside, he’s not putting the World Cup Final cart before the horse.

“It’s happened before then I’ve lost the final, so I’m quite happy to lose a competition!”

Only he doesn’t.

Exell will compete next in the FEI Driving World Cup Geneva. The reigning World Cup champion has already secured the maximum 30 points required to qualify for the Final in Bordeaux, France this February.

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