France's Francois Xavier Boudant and the 10-year-old stallion Egoki (Catoki x Kashmir van't Schuttershof) won the CSIO5* 1.45m STAWAG opening class at the 2024-edition of CHIO Aachen as the showjumping action kicked off on Tuesday at the iconic German venue that this year celebrates its 100th anniversary. "A super start," Boudant smiled after his victory. 

With a time of 62.62 seconds, Boudant bested a field of 51 horse-and-rider combinations – taking the win ahead of the host nation's own Richard Vogel and Cydello (Cascadello x Forsyth FRH) in second in 63.08. Sweden's Petronella Andersson and Ollister du Lys (Hunter's Scendro x Quaprice Bois Margot) placed third in 63.41, followed by Germany's Jörne Sprehe and Hickstead White (Hickstead x Coupe de Coeur 2) in fourth in 63.82. Great Britain's Ben Maher and Exit Remo (San Remo x Ferro) completed the top five with a time of 65.06 seconds.