Edited press release from Hubside Jumping
At the Hubside Fall Tour in Grimaud, France, René Lopez (COL) and Stalognia (Stakkatol x Chacco-Blue) continued their winning streak when they topped Thursday’s CSI5* 1.50m speed class. Ninth to go, Lopez was nearly a second faster than Simon Delestre (FRA) – taking over the lead.
“Stalognia was fantastic, just like last week,” said Lopez, who then won a CSI4* 1.45m class with the mare in Grimaud. “She’s in great form at the moment and I hope it continues. I’ve been riding her for about a year, she belongs to Bertrand Darier who’s my owner and sponsor. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank him, because without him, I wouldn’t be able to ride such quality horses. I’m delighted for him, for myself, and also for the entire team that surrounds me daily. We don't know yet if we’ll leave her on this win for the weekend, or if she’ll jump again in a class on Saturday. We’re going to think about it. What is certain though, is that she won’t be starting the Grand Prix on Sunday. I’ll be entering Kheros, the second horse I’ve entered in the 5*.”
Delestre and his faithful partner Chesall Zimequest (Casall x Concerto II) finished second, ahead of Mark McAuley (IRL) in third with O'Hara Els (Ogano Sitte x Liandero).
Julien Epaillard (FRA) and Cheyenne d'Auge (Guarana Champeix x Diamant de Semilly) seem untouchable in Grimaud, and once again left the ring victorious in Thursday’s CSI5* 1.45m. “She did two classes last week, she won both, today she did it again, I can’t be anything other than pleased with Cheyenne,” smiled Epaillard. “She’ll be doing the 1.50m speed class on Saturday, it’ll be one of her first over a track of this size. She’s just done the Bourg en Bresse 4* Grand Prix and the 3* one in Cabourg so we will see if she has made progress over this height."
The podium was completed by Belgium with Wilm Vermeir and Joyride S (Toulon x Pachat II) in runner-up position, 1.42 seconds behind Epaillard, and Gregory Wathelet in third with Berline du Maillet Z (Berlin x Action-Breaker).