“I really thought that I will try everything to go for the win and not play it safe – I am glad it worked out,” Martin Fuchs told WoSJ after winning Thursday night’s CSI5* 1.60m Trophée de Genève with Conner Jei. All photos © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.
Text © World of Showjumping
The current world number nine Martin Fuchs (SUI) and the 13-year-old Conner Jei (Connor 48 x Cosimo) took a popular home win in Thursday night’s CSI5* 1.60m Trophée de Genève at the 2024-edition of CHI Geneva in Switzerland.
The first-round track for this Grand Prix qualifier – set by Gérard Lachat (SUI) and Gregory Bodo (FRA) – counted 13 obstacles and 16 efforts, and had a bit of French flair to it as some of the fences used at this summer’s Olympic Games had found their way to Palexpo. The course started with the Parisian Bistro, followed by the Alexandre III Bridge at fence three. After the triple combination at fence ten, came a roll-back to the Paris patterned wall, while the course ended with a Rolex-oxer.
Martin Fuchs and Conner Jei.
Despite the challenges of the course, a total of 19 horse-and-rider combinations from the 41 at start delivered a clear round and joined the jump-off, among them the Swiss national treasure Steve Guerdat – current world number two. Guerdat lifted the roof at the traditional Swiss venue when jumping clear with Venard de Cerisy (Open Up de Semilly x Djalisco du Guet), but in the jump-off it was not to be as the pair had to see a rail fall to the ground during a bold round.
The Swiss crowds were not left disappointed though, with home heroes Martin Fuchs (SUI) and Conner Jei (Connor 48 x Cosimo) making sure the trophy stayed in Switzerland. Leaving out a stride in a spectacular run to the last oxer in the jump-off, Fuchs and Conner Jei crossed the finish line in 33.66 seconds – taking over the lead from Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) and Denver de Talma (Vigo Cece x Canturo Bois Margot) who in the end had to settle for second with their time of 34.33. Daniel Coyle (IRL) and Incredible (Clinton x Heartbreaker) replicated Fuchs’ daring choice of strides to the last, but a fence down in the penultimate double left the Irish rider to 12th in the end, despite the quickest time of the night – 33.33 seconds.
"We are so lucky to be here," Lorenzo de Luca said after placing second with Denver de Talma.
Daniel Deusser (GER) and Killer Queen VDM (Eldorado vd Zeshoek x For Pleasure) took third after clocking a time of 35.25 seconds, while current world number one Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) and Toveks Azaria Dinero (Mylord Carthago x Drakkar des Hutins) finished fourth in 35.49, followed by Harrie Smolders (NED) and Monaco (Cassini II x Contender) in fifth in 36.46.
“It was a big class as always on a Thursday night here in Geneva, with the best horses and riders who want to qualify for the Rolex Grand Prix,” Fuchs told World of Showjumping after his victory. “Even if it is 1.60m and a hard course, you can expect many clear rounds. I have a very quick horse in Conner Jei, he has a big stride and the jump-off suited us very well.”
Daniel Deusser and Killer Queen VDM placed third.
“I really thought that I will try everything to go for the win and not play it safe – I am glad it worked out,” Fuchs said about his plan for the jump-off. “I did one stride less to the last. With Conner Jei, as he has such a big stride and so much scope, plus he is careful, you can do one less sometimes. A special thank you to my owner Adolfo Juri who unfortunately could not make it here.”
“It was tough, I was surprised how many clears came up, but the best horses and riders are here, and the horses always jump good in Geneva,” the second placed Lorenzo de Luca analysed the first-round track. “This is one of the best shows in the world. We are so lucky to be here, and that the horses are still jumping so well at the end of the season. My plan was as I did; I would not change anything. My horse has been unbelievable, he is very good in these big rings – hopefully we will be competitive on Sunday.”
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