Text © World of Showjumping

Belgium’s Abdel Said and the 14-year-old mare Arpege du Ru (Apache d'Adriers x Quat'Sous) were the fastest in Thursday’s CSIO5* 1.50m STAWAG-Prize at CHIO Aachen. As no. 17 to go at Soers, Said and the chestnut mare delivered a lightning-fast performance that not even Richard Vogel (GER) or McLain Ward (USA) could match. 

It was Ward who held the lead as Said entered the ring, after having posted one of his signature rounds – clear, fast, neat and stylish – aboard First Lady (Don Diarado x Lordanos) in a time of 63.75 seconds. However, Said managed to shave the time to beat down to 63.04 seconds – which none of those to come could match. 

Closest came Vogel, who towards the very end of the class rode another quick round with Cydello (Cascadello x Forsyth) – but this time around the clock showed a plus of 0.42 seconds and the home hero had to settle for second behind Said, pushing Ward down to third. Two German riders followed; Kendra Claricia Brinkop on Do It Easy (Vigo Cece x Laeken) in fourth with a time of 65.57, and Katrin Eckermann on Chao Lee (Comme il Faut 5 x Chacco-Blue) in fifth in 66.06.

"Arpege is really special to me," Said praised his winning partner, the 14-year-old Arpege du Ru. "I have had her since she was eight. She always tries her best, and she has jumped the Prague Playoffs, she placed second in the Falsterbo Derby, she has jumped Nations Cups – and she wins speed classes. She has the biggest heart in the world and she always gives a million percentage in the ring. I am really, really happy for her to win a class in Aachen, I think she deserves this win today."

"I think from two to three I was really on it," Said analysed his winning round. "And the rollback to the double. Additionally, she is a naturally very fast horse; she does not spend a lot of time in the air, and that really helps in classes like this." 

"The venue is unbelievable," Said said about CHIO Aachen, that celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. "This show is insane in the way it makes you feel; you feel really like a sports athlete. The venue is amazing for horses with all the space, all in all, for me it is definitely one of the best shows out there."