Koen Vereecke and Oilily de Muze won the CSI3* 1.50m Grand Prix presented by Oliva Nova Beach & Golf Resort as Autumn MET II in Oliva Nova, Spain, concluded on Sunday. Photo © Hervé Bonnaud / www.1clicphoto.com.
Press release from the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour
The third and last week of the Autumn MET II in Oliva Nova, Spain, concluded on Sunday with a Belgian win in the CSI3* 1.50m Grand Prix presented by Oliva Nova Beach & Golf Resort, with Koen Vereecke (BEL) and the 10-year-old mare Oilily de Muze (Vigo d’Arsouilles x Ramiro Z) besting a starting field of 53 horse-and-rider combinations.
Six pairs cleared the first-round track and joined the deciding jump-off, where Vereecke and Oilily de Muze clocked the quickest time – crossing the finish line in 42.39 seconds. Rachel Proudley (GBR) and Quality Street (Obos Quality 004 x Lux Z) placed second after stopping the clock on 42.53, while Ellen Whitaker (GBR) and Korlenski (Cornet Obolensky x Numero Uno) completed the podium in third with their time of 42.89. Emily Dehoff (USA) and Manou de Muze (Arko III x Quidam de Revel) finished fourth, followed by Graham Babes (GBR) aboard Monks I Am Casall (I M Special du Muze x Casall) in fifth.
“The course was big enough, and very delicate,” Vereecke said after his victory. “There were faults everywhere, and, in the end, it was good for me that there were only six clears. With six pairs in the jump-off, I thought that I will really give it my best and Oilily jumped amazing. She did everything right.”
Koen Vereecke celebrating his Grand Prix win. Photo © Hervé Bonnaud / www.1clicphoto.com.
“She has a bit of her own way of jumping, but she has such a big heart,” Vereecke said about his winning ride, the 10-year-old mare Oilily de Muze that also topped a 1.45m Grand Prix qualifier during the first week of Autumn MET II. “Every time I take her to a show, we come back with a ribbon. When you go fast, she wants to go also. Maybe I will take her to Mechelen later this year, but I won’t compete her too much indoors this winter, I think she is better suited for outdoors.”
“I like Oliva,” Vereecke said about the venue at Centro Ecuestre Oliva Nova. “I come here a few times every year. I think we can really improve the young horses here. It is not too big, but there is space enough for everyone – that is what I like best here.”
Autumn MET continues on 26 November with the third and last part of the tour, which runs until December 15.
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