Jérôme Guery and Quel Homme de Hus on the way to victory in the CSI3* Horseware Grand Prix at the Sunshine Tour. Photo © Moises Basallote.
Edited press release from Oxer Sport
Sunday was Jérôme Guery’s day at the Sunshine Tour in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain as the Belgian rider won the two most prestigious classes – both of which counted for the world ranking.
Guery’s morning started with a win in the CSI3* Medium Tour 1.50m Grand Prix, with the 10-year-old gelding Grupo Prom Milton (Mylord Carthago x Sandro Boy). Following in runner-up position, 0.65 seconds behind, was Guery’s compatriot Dominique Hendrickx riding Floris TN (Quality Time x Vancouver), while German rider Richard Vogel ended third with Alentejo (Nartago x Skippy II) after a fifteen-horse jump-off.
Later in the afternoon, Guery snatched the win in the CSI3* Big Tour 1.50m Horseware Grand Prix from his compatriot Gudrun Patteet – this time riding the 15-year-old stallion Quel Homme de Hus (Quidam de Revel x Candillo). With the 9-year-old mare Sea Coast Monalisa van’t Paradijs (Bamako de Muze x Emerald), Patteet was in the lead as Guery entered the ring for the jump-off but missed out on her third big win of the week by 1.81 seconds.
“I saw that Gudrun had gone fast and well, and I tried to do better,” Guery commented. “I know my horse very well and these large arenas are great for him. I think that I turned tighter than Gudrun back to the double, and in the second line I took out a stride. In the last part of the course I was able to move forward in a strong gallop and I think I also took one stride less than her there as well."
Jérôme Guery and Quel Homme de Hus won the CSI3* Horseware Grand Prix at the Sunshine Tour. Photo © Moises Basallote.
Two years ago, this pair also won the CSI3* Grand Prix at the Sunshine Tour. “I love to start my season here at the Sunshine Tour, it’s the best place in the world and with this win I am very, very happy, it’s a great start to the year,” Guery said.
Guery plans towards the Olympic Games with Quel Homme de Hus. “Last year we were prepared to go but unfortunately with the worldwide situation we all had to change our plans. This year I hope that we may go to Tokyo,” he said.
Denmark's Andreas Schou and Quadrosson Ask (Quadros 3 x Carentan) followed in third place in this Grand Prix that counted a total of 60 horse-and-rider combinations, while Dutch rider Kim Emmen and Jack van het Dennehof (Toulon x Quidam de Revel) ended fourth ahead of British rider Jodie Hall Mcateer on Salt'N Peppa (Stolzenberg x Escudo 19) in fifth.
Then