Taking advantage of an opportunity to show on the grass derby field at Equestrian Village, the individual silver medalist at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 was able to speed to the lead of the class. Martin Fuchs (SUI) rode Jacques Bodenmuller’s Cristo (Cristo x Stakkato) to a blazing time of 33.733 seconds to win the $25,000 CP Grand Prix, the closing event of WEF 6.

Twenty-four entries went to task on the first round, and five went clear to contest the jump-off. Fuchs went first on Cristo, setting an unbeatable time.

“I didn’t really like that I was first to go with him,” said Fuchs. “I would have preferred that my inexperienced horse was first to go so I could do a normal round with him, and then do a quick round with Cristo, to see how fast I had to go. Since I honestly really didn’t know the other riders in the jump-off, I just thought I didn’t want to be second, so I took the forward option, which was good, but now I ended up being quite a lot faster.”

Coming closest was Caelinn Leahy (IRL) on Steve Schaefer’s Dymendy (Quasimodo van den Molendreef x Julio Mariner). They finished in 36.206 seconds. Third place went to Hector Florentino (DOM) riding Venus (Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve x Julius), owned by Raylyn Farms Inc., in 37.330 seconds.

Knowing that Cristo would have the next two weeks off, Fuchs wanted the chance to show him, and the CP Grand Prix on the “amazing grass ring” was just the sort of class that fit into the schedule.

Fuchs has ridden Cristo for two and a half years, competing in up to three-star grand prix classes and usually the opening classes during the week in five-star competitions. “He has won at many, many good shows,” said Fuchs. “He’s so easy, a wonderful horse. He’s always fun, always the same. He’s very light on the leg, very light in the hand. He’s just uncomplicated, like a pony.”

Along with winning the CP Grand Prix, Cristo was named the Champion Equine Insurance Jumper Style Award winner for week 7, presented by Laura Fetterman.