Brazil’s Marlon Modolo Zanotelli, already the winner of a CSI5* Hubside Jumping Grand Prix at the end of August, made himself a good start today at Haras des Grillons in Grimaud, France, as their fourth CSI5* event of the season got underway. With the 12-year-old stallion Icarus (Douglas x Sioux de Baugy), Modolo Zanotelli won the opening CSI5* 1.45m counting for the world ranking – leaving Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano on Carlotta 232 (Chaccomo x Cento) to second place and Belgium’s Olivier Philippaerts on Freesby de Vy (Deister x Fidji du Fleury) to third. 

"Going in at the start of the class, and given the level of the horses and riders that came after me, I was not at all sure about winning,” Modolo Zanotelli commented. “Luckily, my friend Scott Brash had four faults – because he was faster than me!”

“I know Icarus very well,” Modolo Zanotelli said. “He was really good today, as always. Between the oxer at number 8 and the vertical at number 9, the majority of the riders did nine strides while I took advantage of my horse's big stride to do eight. Tomorrow, Icarus will get a little rest before jumping in Saturday’s big class. I hope he will be clear in the first round, as I know that in the jump-offs he is very, very quick!" 

Earlier in the day, the French riders dominated the CSI3* 1.45m counting for the world ranking. Julien Epaillard won with Quincy Lady (Quintender 2 x Lordanos), 0.24 seconds ahead of Roger Yves Bost on Bluemuch des Baleines (Chacco-Blue x Clinto). Ireland's Denis Lynch ended third with Darius de Kezeg Z (Darco x Heartbreaker).