Text © World of Showjumping

Switzerland's Steve Guerdat, current world number three, was in a league of his own at the CSI5* Masters of Chantilly on Saturday. Riding PB Maserati (Emerald van't Ruytershof x Cum Laude Z), Guerdat topped the 1.50m Prix Ducati with a time of 68.04 seconds. 

Out of 42 starters, only the top four cleared the track set by the French mastermind Gregory Bodo. Julien Gonin (FRA) on Valou du Lys (Calvaro F.C. x Galoubet A) took the runner-up position with a time of 71.33, while Martin Fuchs (SUI) on Conner 70 (Connor 48 x Cosimo) placed third. Fourth spot went to Edward Levy on the stunning Catchar Mail (Diamant de Semilly x Calvaro) and the fastest four-faulter, Douglas Lindelöw (SWE) on Casquo Blue (Chacco-Blue x Carthago Z) took the fifth place. 

"The course was really nice, Gregory did a good job," Steve Guerdat commented to World of Showjumping. "It was not too big, but this place is really difficult, and the jumps are very light – they are more indoor style than outdoor," he continued. "With a big, open ring, there is not much backing off the horses, so you need a very careful and concentrated horse. That is why there were so many faults; not because it was big or too difficult, but because of the material is so light, it is difficult to jump clear." 

"Maserati is a very talented 9-year-old," Guerdat told about his winning mount. "He has been with me for a bit less than a year, and is not too experienced. He did not do too many international shows before I got him, and last year there were not so many. He started to jump the first 1.45m classes this year in Spain, and then again, we had a show break. So, he is just starting, but he has done some really good rounds. He was not so competitive in the beginning, he had to learn that. Now we are getting it all slowly together. I believe we have a lot to improve and he is going to be a top horse – maybe my best Grand Prix horse for the future." 

Saturday's first CSI5* class, the 1.45m Prix H&H went to home hero Nicolas Delmotte and Citadin du Chatellier  (l'Arc de Triomphe*Bois Margot x Diamant de Semilly) with a time of 41.89 seconds in the jump-off. Fanny Skalli Guerdat (FRA) on Jonka-A (Cardento x Chin Chin) took the runner-up position with a time of 42.27 and the third place went to Celine Schoonbroodt- De Azevedo (BEL) on Clinto Z (Clintissimo Z x Indoctro). Mario Deslauriers (CAN) on Bardolina 2 (Clarimo x Landos) took the fourth place, and the fifth spot went to Alexander Butler (IRL) on Pico (Chekhov Pzk x Carrolls Flight).