crowds enjoy the spectacular backdrop at GCT Chantilly
Scott Brash and John Whitaker make the biggest impacts of the Brits, including with some rising equine stars, while the big class goes to the Netherlands
THE 10th leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour belonged to the flying Dutchman Harrie Smolders, but there were plenty of celebrations in the British camp, too.
With a team win alongside John Whitaker for the Hamburg Diamonds in the Global Champions League under his belt on Saturday, 37-year-old Harrie made it a sensational double by also lifting the grand prix trophy with the mighty 13-year-old stallion Emerald NOP.
“To win both on the same horse is something special,” said Harrie, who has extended his lead in the Tour’s individual standings with just four more legs before the final in Doha.
Chantilly, France’s equestrian capital, welcomed a couple of hundred extra equine residents for a glorious weekend of jumping within the surrounds of the racecourse with a magnificent backdrop of a fairytale chateau and grand old stables.
Course-designer Uliano Vezzani took riders round every inch of the huge grass arena, where the going was described as “good to firm”. He set several critical tests of accuracy on turnbacks, with a double of towering verticals under the bustling VIP eateries and a final oxer which drew horses away from the arena entrance for one final maximum effort.
Four made the challenge look unfeasibly easy, but first-round casualties included John Whitaker and Cassinis Chaplin who made a slightly sticky arrival in to the treble combination and ground to a shuddering halt at the second element. A spectator also had a near-miss when a shoe from Roger-Yves Bost’s Sunshine Du Phare flew into the packed stands as they tackled the final fence.
But the knowledgeable and vocal 4,500-plus crowds quickly put the incident behind them for some high calibre jump-off riding.
They roared home French pathfinder Philippe Rozier on the powerful grey stallion Rahotep De Toscane, giving their pacey clear in 44.80 seconds a standing ovation. But cruising straight into the lead from second draw came Harrie, pulling off some daring but careful turns to saunter home three seconds faster as Emerald relished the galloping track.
Carlos Lopez of Colombia made the final showdown for the €99,000 (£86,825) top prize a
truly global affair, but four faults on Cuplandra left the door ajar for Great Britain’s leading rider Scott Brash. Riding Hello Forever, who floats over the 1.60m fences but whose turning ability is still a work in progress according to his rider, the in-form pair made a brilliant challenge but were just a second slower to take the silver medal on the coveted podium — where nobody escaped a champagne drenching.
“When I did my round I thought I wasn’t fast enough,” said Harrie. “I was very smooth everywhere but had two steady moments, so I left a little gap open, but it was enough.”
Scott, who won the previous speed qualifier on Hello Forever, adding a €59,400 to his €60,000 grand prix payout, said: “Forever was amazing — I was just too slow!
“I’ve juggled around with bits in the past with him, but the double bridle works great — perhaps the turning is not quite amazing yet, and I probably lost it turning back to the second last as I wasn’t tight enough there. But we’re going in the right direction.”
Philippe, one of many riders moving on to Aachen this week for the Nations Cup and Rolex Grand Prix, praised Uliano’s coursebuilding.
“As always, he built a caring round about the horses where they don’t get tired,” he said. “I leave confident and with a fresh horse.”
SPARKLING FORM
TEAMING up for the first time in the Global Champions League, Hamburg Diamonds squad members Harrie (Emerald) and John Whitaker (Cassinis Chaplin) produced some top notch jumping for a sparkling victory. The Diamonds have now taken a strong hold in the overall standings, too.
“We’re very focused on the team — we try to put our good horses forward, we don’t ride for the class ourselves but we try to ride for the team first and I think that’s why we’re in the lead,” explained Harrie of the winning team ethics. “I must say I think John and I are a good couple. It’s a privilege for the Diamonds to have someone like John on our team, and I think he showed again today how good he is, and his skills. At the moment we’re in the lead, but we still have five circuits to come. But the Diamonds are in good shape.”
But it was John who sealed victory with a classy and crucial clear, adding just a time-fault, on this promising nine-year-old.
“I don’t think I rode him as good as I could, but he really tried and he jumped clear,” said John with typical modesty.
Paris Sellon teamed up with Scott Brash, who brought out the exciting eight-year-old Hello Senator for the opening round but took over on Hello Forever in round two, to take the runner-up spot for Miami Glory.
“I was lucky enough to have Scott help me in the warm-up, and I’ll take every bit of advice I can get from him!” said the US rider.
Scott added: “I thought I’d done all I could to put the pressure on, but with John behind you, you can always nearly guarantee a clear coming from him.”
CONSISTENT QUALITY
SUNDAY’S feature class went to Belgian rider Jérôme Guery for the second year in a row, after a pulsating eight-rider jump-off.
“It’s never easy to repeat this kind of class a year later, but this year it was different because I was riding my long-time partner Papillon Z,” said the winner, now €20,460 richer, of his trademark big-jumping 15-year-old stallion who truly soared over the final oxer from a mile off.
“He is very special to me — he brought me to the top level and allowed me to qualify for the Olympics. He changed my life. He may not be the best horse in the world, but he is so generous.”
French film star Guillaume Canet (Babeche) was among the CSI* winners; British rider Skye Higgin also scooped a victory, with Quarina De Blondel in the CSI2* 1.45m speed class.