World no.one Steve Guerdat and Victorio des Frotards won the CSI5* Grand Prix at Hubside Jumping, the first Grand Prix at this level after the Covid-19 lockdown. Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.
This afternoon, Hubside Jumping in Grimaud, France played host to the crème de la crème of international horses and riders for the first CSI5* Grand Prix after Covid-19 lockdown.
Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat, world number one, triumphed with the 11-year-old gelding Victorio des Frotards (Barbarian x Prince Ig'Or) – finishing ahead of young French rider Edward Levy on Rebeca LS (Rebozo La Silla x Cassini I) in second and Sweden’s Peder Fredricson on Catch Me Not S (Cardento 933 x Ramiro's Son) in third.
Nine of the 48 horse-and-rider combinations made it to the jump-off in the 1.60m Grand Prix, where Guerdat was 0.13 seconds faster than Levy. A second behind the winning time, followed Fredricson. Fourth place went to Belgium's Niels Bruynseels on Delux Van T & L (Toulon x Landetto) and fifth to home hero Kevin Staut on Viking d'La Rousserie (Quaprice Bois Margot x Apache d'Adriers).
Steve Guerdat and Victorio des Frotards. Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.
“The first round went really well,” Guerdat commented after his win. “Victorio has already won the three five-star Grands Prix [classes] in which he competed this year. I knew he could do it but despite this, there were a lot of unknowns in this Grand Prix, as I didn’t jump a lot with my horses during the lockdown."
"He jumped really well here during the first week of the Hubside Jumping and then he went home to rest a bit last week. He jumped really well in the first big class on Thursday, but in the 1m50 class on Friday I felt he was a bit tired. So, I wasn’t sure how we would do today. Apparently, the day off really did him good, because in the first round he jumped incredible. I think that he has never jumped as well as that! I had a great feeling in the ring when we jumped the first round," Guerdat said.
"The jump-off of this Grand Prix was really fast, like all the classes that take place here, and that’s why I chose to ride Victorio. He really gave it his all for me in the jump-off and I’m really proud of him! Next week, I will be back in the ring here but without Victorio, who is going home to have a rest," the winner closes off.
Then