Martin Fuchs (SUI) and the 14-year-old gelding The Sinner (Sanvaro x Landgold 3) were unbeatable in Saturday's CSIO5* 1.50m Prix Saur at Jumping International La Baule.
A total of 57 horse-and-rider combinations participated in the class and eleven of them qualified for the jump-off where nine cleared the course for a second time – which made it a race against the clock.
It was home rider Mathieu Billot (FRA) who took an early lead with H (C Indoctro x Emilion) in a time of 36.81 seconds, much to the delight of the French supporters. However, coming in towards the end of the class, Fuchs went all in – shaving off 0.30 seconds on the leading time while cheered and whistled on by the fantastic crowd in La Baule. Harrie Smolders (NED) and the well jumping Uricas v/d Kattevennen (Uriko x San Patrignano Cassini) made it the closest to the top two when stopping the clock at 37.24 seconds, to take the third place.
Fourth place went to Wilm Vermeir (BEL) riding Enola Gay of Two Notes Z (Emerald van’t Ruytershof x Chin Chin) and fifth place to Edward Levy (FRA) with Catchar Mail (Diamant de Semilly x Calvaro).