A total of 39 pairs were on the start list of Friday’s Suez Prize at CSI5* Jumping de Dinard, where home hero Kevin Staut clinched the victory with style. 

Designed by Jean-François Morand, the track went over 1.55m fences against the clock and as number six to go Kevin Staut, 2016 Olympic team champion, delivered an amazing round in perfect harmony with the 12-year-old gelding Silver Deux de Virton HDC (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Heartbreaker).

In the end, eleven riders managed to clear the course but with Kevin and Silver stopping the clock at 79.32 seconds they were the only pair to remain below 80’’ for the rest of the class.

Obviously happy, Kevin declared: “When you are at the beginning of the start list, you never know which is the right strategy, but that kind of showground suits him [Silver Deux de Virton HDC] very well. Besides, Jean-François Morand designed a very fluid course, he knows the Val Porée stadium perfectly, it was very pleasant to ride. Dinard’s arena allows big horses to express themselves, while sometimes they might be frustrated in more reduced spaces. Silver started with Olivier Guillon, I have been riding him for two and a half years, mainly in Nations Cups, so he hardly competes in speed classes, but this winter he won a big class against the clock in Doha and came second in a jump-off with ten pairs in Zürich. He performs better and better.” 

The second place went to British rider Laura Renwick, riding Bintang (Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve x Orlando), who cleared the course in 81.32 seconds. The double winner of the Derby Tropicana of Dinard (2015 and 2016) was smiling: “He was unlucky yesterday, but today he jumped very well. He will compete in the Grand Prix on Sunday.”

The podium of the Suez Prize was completed by German rider Hans-Dieter Dreher, riding his faithful 17-year-old stallion Embassy II (Escudo I x Silvio I) to a time of 81.56 seconds. The rider said he was really pleased with his partner for the past eight years, which he is trying hard to spare: “Dinard is only his 5th show this season, he will compete in Valence. I try to be very careful, I love him too much.”