Martin Fuchs and the 9-year-old Zaffiro Blu di Franciacorta won Saturday's CSIO5* 1.50m Prize Arco by Paco Perez under patronage of Magazine Prestiż in Sopot. Photo © CSIO Sopot.
Text © World of Showjumping
Saturday's CSIO5* 1.50m Prize Arco by Paco Perez under patronage of Magazine Prestiż at the 2023-edition of Sopot Horse Show went to Switzerland's Martin Fuchs – current world number five – and the 9-year-old Zaffiro Blu di Franciacorta (Carembar de Muze x Tygo).
With a time of 40.29 seconds, Fuchs and his 9-year-old were the quickest in a jump-off between eleven horse-and-rider-combinations – taking the win ahead of Gudrun Patteet (BEL) and Sea Coast Monalisa van'T Paradijs (Bamako de Muze x Emerald) in second in 41.28.
"I'm very pleased with Zaffiro's performance today," Fuchs told World of Showjumping. "He is still green for a 9-year-old horse, and this was our first big class together. I'm excited about the future with him and I think he has the potential to jump some big Grand Prix classes."
The hosts' very own Tomasz Miskiewicz (POL) and Castigo de Amor (Cascadello x Con Air) placed third in 42.90, while Fredrik Spetz (SWE) and Flanagan (Clinton x Edison) finished fourth in 43.78, followed by Tina Lund (DEN) in fifth in 45.68 aboard Cordani PS (Balou du Reventon x Baloubet du Rouet).
Wilm Vermeir and Dirina O.H. Z, winners of the CSIO5* 1.45m Prize Immergas under patronage of Wirtualna Polska. Photo © CSIO Sopot.
Earlier in the day, the 1.45m Prize Immergas under patronage of Wirtualna Polska – also counting for the Longines Ranking – went to Belgium's Wilm Vermeir and Dirina O.H. Z (Dicasi O.H. x Clarissimo Z), ahead of Martin Fuchs and Viper Z (Vigo d'Arsouilles x Grannus) in second and Matias Larocca (ARG) aboard Tehuelche (Conthargos x Quick Star) in third.
Then