Edited press relese from Saut Hermès

The Saut Hermès in Paris, France, has returned to its original setting after taking place at the Grand Palais Éphémère for the past three editions, whilst the Grand Palais was renovated.

Friday’s CSI5* 1.50m Prix Hermès Sellier, a qualifier for Sunday’s Grand Prix Hermès, saw Belgium’s Gilles Thomas on Qalista DN (Emerald van’T Ruytershof x Landetto) set the quickest pace ahead of Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs – the current world no.4 – on L&L Upgrade (Ultimo x Baloubet du Roeut) in second.

On a course created by the Spanish course designer Santiago Varela Ullastres, the 26-year-old Belgian, ranked 24th in the world, posted a fabulous round to snatch the win over a second ahead of Fuchs and L&L Upgrade, while Germany’s Kendra Claricia Brinkop on Ma Belle (Ugano Sitte x Bayard d’Elle) placed third, followed by Christian Ahlmann (GER) on D’Aganix 2000 X (Dominator 2000 Z x Aganix du Seigneur) in fourth and Max Kühner (AUT) aboard EIC Up Too Jacco Blue (Chacco-Blue x Ard VDL Douglas) in fifth. 

“At just 9 years of age, my mare has already won a lot of events with jumps set at 1.45m and 1.50m,” Thomas said. “Today was her five-star debut. She’s just back from three weeks on Spain’s Sunshine Tour and has returned from there in very good shape, which is what prompted me to bring her here. She won’t be competing in Sunday’s Grand Prix because I’ve also brought along Ermitage Kalone. The main aim was to qualify for the Grand Prix with her and be able to keep Ermitage back for Sunday.”

Like all the other riders, the Belgian is also delighted to be riding at the Grand Palais once again. “I’ve already participated in the Saut Hermès three times but that was at the Grand Palais Éphémère,” he said. “It was really wonderful just beside the Eiffel Tower but, when you see this place, it is quite extraordinary and unique.”

Earlier during the day, Martin Fuchs secured victory in the CSI5* 1.45m Prix du Grand Palais, a two-phase competition which featured fifty-two riders in total. Riding the 12-year-old gelding Commissar Pezi (Commissario x Böckmann’s Lord Pezi), the current world number four finished a tenth of a second ahead of Luxembourg’s Victor Bettendorf and Cancun Torel Z (Cosinhus x Grannus) in second and Olivier Perreau (FRA) aboard GL Events Dolce Deceuninck (Toulon x Cartier van de Heffinck) in third.