Martin Fuchs went to the top in Thursday's 1.45 opening class at the Longines Masters of Paris. The competition gave the 5* riders a chance to warm their horses up in the arena, so for some this was an opportunity to prepare their top horses for the weekend's events and for others to combine practicality with pleasure.

Martin Fuchs had the last word here. Riding Uzo van het Hobos Z (Up to Date Miltoo x Chellano Z), the Swiss rider finished on an unbeatable time of 53.73 seconds - a good omen for the Longines Speed Challenge tomorrow evening in which he should be competing with the same horse.

"He was a bit nervous as he entered the arena," Martin said, "but once we got going, he started to concentrate." This young Swiss rider revealed his talent at last year's event in Paris when he won the Gucci Grand Prix. He has come back to win again with this nine year-old Z horse who is already very competitive. 

Second place went to another Swiss rider; Pius Schwizer on Leonard de la Ferme CH (Landjuweelx Indigene de Corday), while Great Britain's Jessica Mendoza was third on Sam de Bacon (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Vlan de Vergoignan). 

Source: Press release from the Longines Masters of Paris