Gregory Wathelet (BEL) walked away with a stylish win in Friday’s CSI5* 1.50m/1.55m class presented by Massimo Dutti at the Longines Global Champions Tour in Monaco, riding the 13-year-old stallion Eldorado van het Vijverhof (Thunder van de Zuuthoeve x Omar). 

Following an initial solid clear, Wathelet notched up an impressively rapid round in the jump-off, stopping the clock at 30.72s.

Taking his trophy, Wathelet said, "It’s always a good feeling winning a class, especially when it is the biggest class of the day. I did three strides less than Simon, and my horse jumped really, really well. I’m very happy.”

A large jump-off field with sixteen of the best horses in the world meant that it was very tight between those at the top. Just a tenth of a second behind Wathelet, followed France’s Simon Delestre with Chesall Zimequest (Casall x Concerto 4). 

The smallest arena on the Tour demanded that riders laid down some quick and strategic thinking from the off, and there was plenty of movement through the jump-off as riders pushed for podium finishes. Daniel Deusser (GER) had enough to make it with SX Hidalgo v. (Quadrillo x Andiamo) to come third with 31.21s, and whilst Kevin Staut (FRA) looked fast to the crowd, a couple of extra strides from Ayade de Septon et HDC (Wandor van de Mispelaere x Belle d'Avril du Mazy) meant he was left with fourth.

Source: Press release from LGCT // Picture © Stefano Grasso/LGCT