GOTHENBURG, Sweden, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Sweden's Peder Fredricson cruised to victory in front of an exciting home crowd in the second day's competition at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Finals here on Friday.
Fredricson, who finished 11th in Thursday's race, clocked 37.94 seconds with his Catch Me Not S in clearing the eight-horse jump-off.
"I didn't expect to win today," said the reigning European champion. "I'm really happy."
But Spain's Eduardo Alvarez Aznar took a surprise lead in the overall standings into Sunday's two-round title-decider despite finishing second behind Fredricson.
Alvarez Aznar, riding his Rokfeller De Pleville Bois Margot, said, "I was not expecting this. I was expecting a good result. The horse has been jumping good through the whole season. Today he jumped fantastic.
"I want to be on the podium of a Championship and I am now in a good position but I have to stay focused and have a good ride on Sunday".
Switzerland's Steve Guerdat, the winner on Thursday, was third on the leaderboard with a single point behind Fredricson after a single mistake in the jump-off proved too costly.
America's defending champion Beezie Madden, posted by far the quickest time in the jump-off but fell victim to the turn the very last. She has moved right into contention up from 10th to equal-fourth place in the overall rankings alongside Belgium's Niels Bruynseels and Olivier Philippaerts and Switzerland's Martin Fuchs.
