It was world no. two Harrie Smolders (NED) that took the top honours in Friday’s ‘Prix French Tour Generali Trophée Nouvelle Aquitaine’ – a 1,50m against the clock – in Bordeaux. Riding the 14-year-old Zinius (Nabab de Reve x Kannan), Smolders recorded yet another big win after speeding around to cross the finish line in 63,92 sec.

“At first, we bought Zinius to replace Regina Z, he was supposed to do the smaller classes where he is very competitive,” Smolders said. “Then he surprised us by winning the World Cup in Mechelen. So yes, now I truly have three Grand Prix horses.” With his win in the Prix French Tour Generali on Friday night, a class many use to prepare for Saturday’s Longines FEI World Cup Grand Prix, Zinius confirmed he is the right choice for this competition. “I will be riding him but as I am already qualified for the final my main objective will be to prepare him for Bercy. I will also ride Emerald tomorrow in a small class to warm him up for Sunday’s Land Rover Grand Prix. Again, this is to prepare for the World Cup Final because I do not know yet if I will ride Emerald or Zinius or maybe both,” Smolders explained.

40 other riders tried to beat Smolders’ time, but no one got close. With 65,29 seconds Germany’s Marcus Ehning and Comme Il Faut (Cornet Obolensky x Ramiro) took the runner-up position, just ahead of Francois Jr Mathy (BEL) with Casanova de L’Herse (Ugano Sitte x Kashmir van Schuttershof).

Fourth place went to home rider Julien Gonin (FRA) with Soleil de Cornu CH (Qredo de Paulstra x Le Tot de Semilly), while Mark McAuley (IRL) ended fifth riding Valentino Tuiliere (Diamant de Semilly x Silvio). 

Earlier in the day, Julien Gonin (FRA) won the 1,40m ‘Prix Foire Internationale de Bordeaux’ riding the 15-year-old Well Done (Vdl Sheraton x Zeus). Harrie Smolders (NED) was second with Monaco (Cassini II x breeding unknown), while Marcus Ehning (GER) took the third place with Cornado NRW (Cornet Obolensky x Acobat) ahead of Daniel Deusser (GER) with Tobago (Tangelo v Zuuthoeve x Mr Blue) and Eduardo Alvarez Aznar (ESP) with Rokfeller de Pleville Bois Mar (I’Arc de Triomphe x Apache d’Adriers).

The ‘Bordeaux Young Sires Masters by Selle Francais’ was won by Christian Ahlmann (GER) with the 7-year-old Solid Gold Z (Stakkato Gold x Calvin Z). France followed in second and third with Penelope Leprevost with the 8-year-old GFE Excalibur de la Tour Vidal (Ugano Sitte x Ogano Sitte) and Alexis Deroubaix with the 7-year-old Bornthis Way Chapelle (Kashmir van’t Schuttershof x Capitol II).