Press release from Mediterranean Equestrian Tour 

Mariano Martinez Bastida (ESP) and the 9-year-old gelding Jup (Carrera VDL x Silverstone, bred by G.L. Hoksbergen) took their second Grand Prix win at the Autumn MET 2023, when blazing through the timers in 33.91 seconds in the jump-off of Sunday’s CSI3* 1.50m Grand Prix presented by CHG - Construcciones Hispano Germanas S.A in Oliva Nova, Spain. 

Only eight of the 59 horse-and-rider combinations in the Grand Prix could answer all the questions asked by course designer Javier Trénor (ESP), and moved on to the jump-off. First out Joseph Davison (GBR) delivered a clear round in 36.55 seconds aboard Iggy Pop (Dallas VDL x Labor's VDL Indorado) and the time to beat had been established. Next in the ring, Riccardo Pisani (ITA) shaved the time down to 35.20 seconds aboard Oliver Van’t Heike (Epleaser Van T Heike x Argentinus) but it was not to last as William Whitaker (GBR) slotted into the lead two riders later when bringing the time down to 34.97 riding Chacco’s Lando (Chacco-Blue x Lando). 

However, Mariano Martinez Bastida and Jup were not going to be denied a home win and blazed around the shortened course to stop the clock on 33.91 seconds to go into first. Nicolas Layec (FRA) gave it a good shot though, but could not quite catch up with his 34.25 seconds aboard Bulgarie d'Engandou (Vargas de Ste Hermelle x Calvaro F.C) – slotting into second behind Martinez Bastida. Last to go, it all came down to Alberto Marquez Galobardes (ESP) but when the clock stopped at 34.38 he had to settle for third with Aldo du Manoir (Iowa 960 x Arpege Pierreville) – making it a great end result for the host nation with two home riders on the podium. 

Mariano Martinez Bastida – who also won a CSI3* Grand Prix at Autumn MET only a month ago with Jup – gave some insight into the first-round course, that proved tricky for many.

“It was a course with a short time allowed and the final part was quite difficult,” he explained. “The horses got a bit tired at the end of the course and made faults – especially on the last line.”

“Jup is in very good shape, and he jumps very well in this arena,” Martinez Bastida said of his clear in the first round before he detailed his jump-off plans. “This time, I didn't go last, so I thought I would go as fast as possible to win.”

Jup is a horse at the beginning of his international career, and Martinez Bastida has high expectations for the gelding’s future. “He is only 9 years old and has little experience, but he is increasingly doing better and better. He will be a great 5* horse for next year. My intention is to do a World Cup at the beginning of the 2024-season and try to qualify for the Final, and of course be back here in Oliva,” the happy winner smiled. 

The Autumn MET 2023 now enters its last week of competition, concluding next Sunday on the 17 December.