Edited press release from London International Horse Show

Thursday's CSI5*-W 1.55m Santa Stakes – a competition counting for the Longines Rankings Group C – continued the world-class action at the London International Horse Show 2024 at the Excel, with crowds once again treated to impressive displays of skill and horsemanship. To proceed to the jump-off and keep their winning hopes alive, riders needed to remain faultless over Bernardo Costa Cabral’s testing first-round course. Belgium’s Olivier Philippaerts on Cristel (Diamant de Semilly x Dobel's Cento) was the first to do so and was quickly followed by Tim Gredley (GBR) on Medoc de Toxandria (Der Senaat x Kelvin de Sainte Hermelle) – a regular on the British FEI Nations Cup™ team. Much to the delight of the home crowd, FEI young rider European individual gold medallist Oliver Fletcher (GBR) on Cajus 42 (Comme Il Faut x Quidam's Rubin) joined the exclusive list of riders who would proceeded to the second round.

In total, seven combinations advanced to the shortened course and re-entered the arena in the same order as the first round. First into the International Arena, Philippaerts set the standard with a time of 34.00 seconds. Both British riders, Tim Gredley and Oliver Fletcher, produced faultless jumping rounds but could not match the pace set by the Belgian. The remaining combinations also fell short, and so Philippaerts claimed his first victory in London, with Kim Emmen (NED) on Imagine (Cassini Gold x Lord Z) in second, Gredley taking third and Fletcher fourth. 

“It’s very satisfying," Philippaerts said. "I didn’t really know what to expect as it’s only my second class with her, but she was placed yesterday in the big class, and today also, so I am very very happy about it," he said about his winning horse, the 14-year-old mare Cristel. "She is very quick over the ground and I think that’s what made a difference. It’s the first time I have won a class here so I am very happy with it - it’s a great crowd so I am delighted with the win today.”

Earlier during the day, the CSI5*-W 1.50m Christmas Pudding Speed Stakes – a competition counting for the Longines Rankings Group D – saw 33 of the world’s best show jumpers go head-to-head against the clock. Many of those contesting Bernardo Costa Cabral’s 12 fence course accrued faults under the pressure of setting a pace fast enough to take the victory and it was not until ninth to go – 64-year-old Geir Gulliksen (NOR) on Oh La La van Overis (Otangelo x Udarco van Overis) that a clear round was posted. Playing it safe, the Norwegian rider’s time of 68.61 seconds left the door ajar to those who followed, and world no. 9 Martin Fuchs (SUI) took over the lead aboard L&L Lorde (Clyde Lvb Z x Elan De La Cour) at the halfway point.

Fuch’s lead was short lived, with Mario Stevens (GER) on Cornet de Semilly (Cornet Obolensky x Diamant de Semilly) gaining the top spot momentarily, before Matthew Sampson (GBR) on Daniel (Heartbreaker x San Patrignano Mister) put on an impressive performance, much to the delight of the home crowd, to take almost four seconds off Stevens’ time. The 2023 Leading Rider of the Show, riding the 16-year-old Daniel, saw his time beaten on several occasions in the latter stages of the competition, however with faults picked up along the way, Sampson’s lead remained. Kevin Staut (FRA) came closest, riding his 15-year-old bay mare Visconti du Telman (Toulon x Dollar du Murier) with Stevens taking third.

Speaking after his win, Sampson said: “I’m very lucky to have a horse like Daniel, he’s amazing, he makes my job a lot easier. He’s going to do the Grand Prix tomorrow, but he’s not really a horse who likes to go in and do a slow schooling round, so I just did a round that I thought was comfortable for him. Luckily it was enough! The course walked like it was going to be quite easy, but the fences came up quickly and it caused a few challenges – it was a good course because there were faults in all different areas.”

Referring to the Show, Sampson continued: “We aim for this show all year, we’re always thinking about qualifying to come here, so to be able to come, with my family here too, it’s special – we’re very lucky to have this show in our country.”