Press release from Chantilly Classic, edited by World of Showjumping

One year after winning the only two CSI4* classes he contested at Chantilly Classic aboard Arioto du Gevres, France’s Marc Dilasser appears determined to pick up exactly where he left off. On Friday, the French rider claimed the CSI4* 1.50m Prix Saur, the second and final qualifier for the Al Shira’aa Tour Grand Prix Ville de Chantilly, with Make My Day Z du Gevres (Mylord Carthago x Ukato) on the vast grass arena of the Grandes Écuries.

And when Dilasser talks about this arena, his enthusiasm leaves little room for doubt: “This is what real sport, top-level sport, is about: competing in arenas like this. The arena is outstanding and the footing is fabulous. You can take risks through the turns. Of course, our sport needs every type of arena, but to me, this is what equestrian sport is all about; jumping on a beautiful grass arena. This is definitely what I prefer. It adds another level of enjoyment to what we do and, above all, you can feel that the horses are comfortable and happy to jump. I think this is what riders all over the world truly love.”

Under the Chantilly sunshine and a welcome breeze, the eleven horse-and-rider combinations qualified for the Prix Saur jump-off were able to make full use of the arena’s generous dimensions and the excellent response of its grass surface.

Marc Dilasser and Make My Day Z du Gevres produced a second clear round in 41.58 seconds, edging American icon Laura Kraut and Tres Bien Z (Toulon x Nabab de Reve) by just six hundredths of a second. Kraut crossed the finish line in 41.64 seconds.

Last to enter the arena, another American rider, Kaitlin Campbell, completed the podium with Cosm Castlefield Cornelious (Cornet Obolensky x Contender) in 43.98 seconds. Make My Day Z du Gevres and Tres Bien Z therefore secured a one-two finish for the Zangersheide studbook in this €56,800 Longines Ranking class contested over 1.50m fences.

Marc Dilasser has known Make My Day Z du Gevres for four years. The talented yet highly sensitive grey mare has already partnered him in numerous CSI4* and CSI5* Grands Prix. “Today, she was fantastic. She is an exceptional mare, but she is extremely sensitive. We have jumped many Grands Prix together and she has already won several of them. Recently, I still felt that I was missing one small adjustment to make everything fall into place. Today, in such a beautiful setting, everything worked.”

Friday’s victory inevitably brought back memories of last season. At the 2025 Chantilly Classic, Marc Dilasser won the Prix Demeures de Campagne with Arioto du Gevres on the opening day before claiming the Grand Prix Ville de Chantilly three days later. Two starts in the major CSI4* classes, two victories. In 2026, the Normandy-based rider appears to have started on exactly the same footing. With the same objective? “I am definitely going to try! Will I manage to do it again? We will find out on Sunday afternoon.”

To defend his crown in the Al Shira’aa Tour Grand Prix Ville de Chantilly, Dilasser will reunite with Arioto du Gevres. Now sixteen years old, his long-time partner was given time to recover after finishing a creditable seventeenth in the FEI Jumping World Cup Final in Texas in April.

“Arioto is in great form. I gave him a break after the World Cup Final. He has given me so much and, now that he is sixteen, I am managing him with the utmost care. He loves going to shows, but I have taken things a little more quietly with him over the past few weeks so that he can gradually return to peak form. He feels very well, and he is the one who will jump the Grand Prix on Sunday.”

The Chantilly Classic presented by Al Shira’aa continues on Saturday, with the CSI4* 1.45m Grand Prix de la Laiterie de Montaigu, contested under the Winning Round format, as the day’s sporting highlight. On Sunday, all eyes will turn to the Al Shira’aa Tour Grand Prix Ville de Chantilly, the €106,000 feature class of the weekend, contested over fences reaching 1.55m.