The Longines Global Champions Tour of Chantilly took place this weekend, where Belgian’s Jérôme Guéry was victorious in front of a crowd of nearly 6,000 spectators.
“I won last year the same class and it’s never easy to repeat this kind of exercise a year later, so I’m really pleased by this victory,” said Guéry. “But this year it was different because I was riding Papillon Z, my long-time partner. He is very special to me. He brought me to the top level and allowed me to qualify for the Olympics. He changed my life. He may be not the best horse in the world but he is so generous.”
That’s what he showed in this jump-off, meeting every risky demand of his rider including a huge jump over the last oxer. “My rounds with Papillon are always special, but jump-offs are even more… he is my old friend, my accomplice, and I know he is capable of taking off far from the fence without any problem, even if it seems spectacular. It’s his trademark and we gain a lot of time on the jump. It makes him a fast horse even if he is pretty cold.”