Press release from Saut Hermès, edited by World of Showjumping

Riding Hello Chadora Lady (Chacco-Blue x Nintender), the current world no. one Scott Brash (GBR) took victory in the CSI5* 1.60m €400,000 Grand Prix du Saut Hermès, the grand finale of a three-day competition showcasing top-level sport within the sublime setting of the Grand Palais and its historic glass roof, which was bathed in sunshine from start to finish in Paris.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” Brash said. “Chadora was exceptional today on what was a very special and pretty unique course designed by Santiago, as well as being very respectful of the horse. Chadora secured a number of wins in Doha over the winter and had already jumped very well in the Grand Prix at the Dutch Masters a week ago, though we were a little unlucky with one fault. My strategy here was to do one minor class and then focus all my attention on the Grand Prix Hermès. Thank you to everyone who makes this incredible competition possible.”

Martin Fuchs (SUI) on Conner Jei (Connor 48 x Cosimo) was the first of six pairs to launch into the jump-off after an unusual first round designed by Spaniard Santiago Varela Ullastres, which notably included three doubles, two of them consecutive and just three strides apart. Despite Fuchs setting a high standard, the world number one brought his A game to shave 1.03 off the Swiss rider’s time. Another reference time, it proved to be unbeatable on this occasion.

With Mr. Tac (Non Stop x Toulon), owned by the Mégret family, victorious in this Grand Prix in 2023 with Victor Bettendorf, Dutchman Harrie Smolders went all out… but had to settle for second place, tied on time with Fuchs. The podium remained unchanged from then on. Winner of three World Cup rounds over the past winter, Dutchman Willem Greve, riding Grandorado TN N.O.P. (Eldorado vd Zeshoek x Carolus II), had to make do with fourth place this time, ahead of Belgian rider Thibeau Spits, world no.1 in the U25 category on Impress-K van’T Kattenheye Z (Indoktro K van’T Kattenheye x Vagabond de La Pomme) in fifth.

This Sunday morning, the CSI5* 1.50m Prix de la Ville de Paris kicked off the third day of the 16th edition of the Saut Hermès at the Grand Palais. For the first time in the Saut Hermès’ history, victory was awarded to a Latvian rider. Posting the fastest round was world no. 95, Kristaps Neretnieks with Quintair (Quintero x Con Air 7), a 16-year-old gelding. “It is very special to win in a competition that is so dear to me,” admits Neretnieks, who travelled from Latvia specially to be here. “It’s the third time I’ve participated at the Saut Hermès and it’s always an awesome experience.”

Securing a time of 27.35, the Latvian rider, who has competed at the last two Olympics, in Paris and Tokyo, crossed the finish line 71 hundredths of a second faster than Belgian rider Jérôme Guéry with Careca LS Elite (Carusso LS La Silla x Rebozo La Silla). “I rode before Kristaps and he went for an option on a vertical that I didn’t go for,” explains the Hermès partner rider. “In a class like this, you have to risk everything. There might have been a way to beat him but I’m very happy with my second place. Finishing on the podium at the Saut Hermès is always enjoyable.” A specialist in the speed classes, Italian rider Emanuele Gaudiano completed the podium with Nikolaj de Music (Kannan x Nabab de Reve).