Edited press release from Hubside Jumping

René Lopez had a smile on his face after taking the top honours in Friday's CSI4* 1.50m class at Hubside Jumping Grimaud. Riding Stalognia, a 12-year-old mare by Stakkatol x Chacco-Blue, the Colombian – who is based at Haras des Grillons alongside his brother Carlos Lopez – took the win ahead of Steve Guerdat (SUI) and Jean Luc Mourier (FRA). At the end of a jump-off contested by 12 riders, Lopez snatched the lead from Guerdat – by 40 hundredths of a second. “It’s a bit like being at home here thanks to the work of Sadri (Fegaier),” smiled the winner. 

“I saw Steve's (Guerdat) round and knew that I’d have to pull out all the stops to be faster, but my mare is amazing, she responded and we succeeded. She’s still progressing at this height so this victory really confirms her potential. I felt in the first round that we had something to play for, she was very good and very much at ease during the round. She’ll do the Grand Prix on Sunday and in the meantime she’ll be hacked out and eat lots of carrots!" 

Lopez certainly gave the other competitors a hard time. Steve Guerdat and the chestnut PB Maserati (Emerald x Cum Laude Z) seemed to be well on their way to victory but had to settle for second place. France’s Jean-Luc Mourier finished third with Kielekoo Van T&L (Carabas Vd Wateringhoeve x Canadian River).

François Mathy Jr. (BEL) won the CSI4* 1.45m speed class. Riding Casanova de L'Herse (Ugano Sitte x Kashmir Van Schuttershof), a 13-year-old grey stallion, Mathy Jr. secured the victory by finishing 50 hundredths of a second ahead of Julien Epaillard (FRA). “I’d already ridden a good round with Hello Diamant and thought I’d be in the top 10, but finally I was a long way down, and then, as usual, Julien took control of the class,” joked the Belgian. “The only solution I had with Casanova was to gallop, I took a stride out just before the last jump and that's what made the difference.” Behind him, Julien Epaillard finished second with his long-standing ride Usual Suspect d'Auge (Jarnac x Papillon Rouge) and as for Steve Guerdat, he was third with Ulysse des Forêts (Col Canto x Le Tot de Semilly).

Two wins yesterday, one today; Julien Epaillard is unstoppable “He even gave himself the luxury of putting on the brakes,” was heard as the Frenchman was about to jump the final fence. Against nine others in the jump-off, Epaillard piloted Cheyenne d'Auge (Guarana Champeix x Diamant de Semilly) to victory in the CSI2* 1.45m. "Cheyenne is fantastic! She already won last week and she's done it again today! Contrary to what you might think, she’s not an easy ride, but she’s very respectful and above all very fast! She has lots of qualities, we’ll continue to make the most of them as best we can to take her as far as possible”. Harold Boisset (FRA) followed in second riding Divine de la Roque (For Hero de Hus x Kannan), while Robin Muhr (ISR) was third with Stawita PS (Stakkatol x Lawito).