Desprez stars as French riders steal the show

paris — Arthur Desprez riding eight-year-old Verseau D’Aurabelle led a clean sweep of the French riders in the CEI Two-star 120-km Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup held on Saturday in the forest of Fontainebleau about 60 kms from the French capital of Paris.

The Sheikh Mansour Cup was part of the two-day Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s ‘Endurance in Capitals Challenge’ endurance events held here.

It was a great effort in the final loop that helped Arthur Desprez on Verseau D’Aurabelle finish ahead of Laetita Pegaz Tocquet on Vegas De Majorie and Alex Moreau on Tann Salou making it a fine showing from the French riders.

Desprez and his horse were in the fifth place when they started on the final stage of 23kms. Until then they had averaged just over 20kmph speed but in the final stage that pace was increased to 25.89 kmph and that helped Desprez and Verseau D’Aurabelle pip Laetita Pegaz Tocquet on Vegas De Majorie, just one second separating the two riders. The winner completed the four-stage 120-km ride in a timing of 6 hours 02 minutes and 36 seconds.

“All riders were of a high quality but I held a steady pace. With the fitness of my horse in great shape after three loops, I decided to go for it and my horse responded very well. It was a great finish and I am glad I won this close finish,” Desprez said.