Saturday, July 10th was a perfect day for the Guerdat family on the Arena Grandes Ecuries at the Masters of Chantilly in France, with victory for Steve Guerdat, who won the Ducati Prize, and a second-place finish and first 5* rosette for his young wife, Fanny Skalli, in the Prix H&H.
“I’m going to frame this rosette,” said Fanny Skalli of her very first CSI 5* ribbon with Jonka, nicknamed ‘The Duchess’. It was the reward for placing second in the afternoon’s Prix H&H, a 1.45m class with a three-horse jump-off where the rider from southern France put the pressure on from the start with a very fast time. But with just 36-100ths of a second less, Nicolas Delmotte riding Citadin du Chatellier deprived her of first place. Canada’s Mario Deslauriers was 4th in the class with Clarimo ASK.
“For me, it’s almost like a victory, but he could have been a gentleman,” laughed the young mother who can’t help but express a little regret. “If I had taken one stride less when I went to the wall, I could have gained a few tenths, but I am very happy… it is my second 5* class and I was already placed yesterday with Jonka who was clear; today she is double-clear, what more could I ask for? The Duchess has a huge heart, she is incredible, she has a solid mind, she is just perfect.”
Jonka and Fanny have progressed together to the 5* level. “I bought her a year and a half ago and she was doing 1.40-1.45m in Switzerland.”
Sunday, Jonka will be resting: “We are going to Dinard with her, so no Grand Prix… maybe I will do the 1* Grand Prix with a horse from Steve,” [Guerdat, her husband and father of little Ella]. Moreover, Fanny managed this feat just three months after giving birth. “I didn’t do anything special to get back into shape, I just wanted to get back on the horse quickly. Every woman is different in this situation, and I think I’m really lucky… yes, I’m very lucky in life.”
But what is already a beautiful story became almost a fairy tale when a few hours later, Steve Guerdat triumphed in the Prix Ducati Bis (1.50m) with Pb Maserati ‒ a class where the lead was long held by French rider Julien Gonin (Valou du Lys) but which Steve took over.
“Yes, that’s what I like about this usually very respectful horse,” Guerdat remarked afterward. “The course was not particularly big, but it was very tricky. The fences have quite soft tones that don’t make the horses react very much and they have to be very careful not to touch them. I rode the course exactly as I had imagined it when I walked it, without taking any more risks than I had planned.”
This marked another victory for the Swiss rider, but what gave him the greatest pleasure today? This winning performance – almost routine for him – or the first ribbon for Fanny? “My victory,” he answered with a mischievous smile, but explaining with the utmost seriousness, “Of course it’s great for Fanny and I’m happy when she wins; she’s done a very good round and I’m very proud of her. But I also do this sport for me, for my horses, for my owners, and it is important to win. It is a double joy, really.”
More info at www.weridetheworld.com
~ with files from R&B Presse
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