For the seventh round of the Global Champions Tour 2010 a new venue was added, France’s capital of the horse, Chantilly. The Honorary President of Jumping Chantilly, Edouard de Rothschild has recently sponsored the creation of a brand new jumping arena with specially laid grass in the centre of the racecourse and the GCT was to be its christening.
Marcus Ehning was the very first rider to jump on the emerald green surface and was efficiently clear on Plot Blue but he obviously was not going for the time in the opening speed class. It was Guy Williams, winner of the Hickstead Derby three weeks ago, who continued his good run of form by winning the Prix Logica. Riding Belinka VH Overlede Goed he posted a time of 57.89 which easily beat long time leader Lauren Hough with Available Versace who was round in 61.14. Lauren recently had a very good show in Aachen and had taken pole position from another British rider Ben Maher earlier in the class. He had been the first to really set a fast time over Uliano Vezzani’s course in front of the 18th century Les Grands Ecurie, when he steered Quainton Quirifino Z home in 62.06. But his lead did not last long, Lauren was the next one in! The final result turned out to be a good one for the USA as despite Nicole Sumpson’s elimination after a fall from Caetano, Richard Spooner snatched third late on with the ever dependable Pako in 61.74.
The second class of the day, the Prix France Gallop had 20,000 Euro total prize money at stake and was also a speed class. Britain’s Ben Maher once again set a good standard when third to go and stopped the clock on 61.89 with his new ride Oscar IX who he has only been jumping for a month. That was good enough to give Ben his second fouth place of the day but his lead was initially taken by Christian Alhmann and grey gelding Calvados Z who did not appear to be hurrying at all. But their time of 61.05 remained in the lead until the very end of the 53 horse class when first Leopold van Asten (VDL Groep Camara) and then Simon Delestre bettered it. Leopold’s time was 60.62 which was not quite good enough to stop a home win for France as Simon went through the finish in 60.16.
Tomorrow will see the GCT Grand Prix start at 15.30 local time when the riders will all be hoping to score more points towards the Final in Rio and the 1,000,000Euro Bonus.
For all the programme details and full results please visit our website at www.globalchampionstour.com or www.jumping-chantilly.com.
Results
Class 1 Prix Logica
1. Guy Williams (GBR) Belinka VH Overlede Goed, 0, 57.89, Euro 1150
2. Lauren Hough (USA) Available Versace, 0, 61.02, Euro 900
3. Richard Spooner (USA) Pako, 0, 61.74, Euro 550
4. Ben Maher (GBR) Quainton Qurifino, 0,62.09, Euro 450
Class 2 Prix France Gallop
1. Simon Delestre (FRA) Melodie Ardente, 0, 60.16, Euro
2. Leopold Van Asten (NED) VDL Groep Cannelina, 0, 60.62
3. Christian Ahlmann (GER) Calvados Z, 0, 61.39
4. Ben Maher (GBR) Oscar IX, 0, 61.85
Quotes
Guy Williams -”I have been here before for other shows and it is always lovely but the new ring was great. It certainly rode well for me anyway!”
Simon Delestre – “I am very pleased with both my horses, it was my plan to ride Napoli this morning and Melodie this afternoon although Napoli will jump in the Grand Prix. It is always good to come here and do well in front of the home crowd and to finish in front of such riders as these.”
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