This Saturday, at the Jumping International de Valence, the Haras des Grillons witnessed a new record of attendance. In front of an awaiting and more than enthusiast crowd, the different classes of the CSI2* and the CSI5* kept their promises, honouring true sport performances.
Harold Boisset is definitively the undefeated man in this fourth edition of the Jumping International de Valence! In the CSI2* Grand Prix SFAM - GBG Assurances, he seized his fourth win, this time riding Katinka vh Valenberghof, with a jump-off of only 37.42 seconds. Harold Boisset spoke a word about her: "She is an eight-year-old mare, she's still quite young for this level of competition but she's already very competitive on 1.35m classes. She was in the third place in the French Championship for 7 years old young horses in Fontainebleau last year. In 2018, she only run three or four 1,45m classes on which she always made four penalties. I wouldn't say this is the best round she realized in her career but today we got lucky and didn't take one pool down. It's a naturally fast mare. Of course, I pushed her a bit on this jump-off and she answered in the best way. I think she has a great future ahead of her, and she will be able to win many classes at 1.45m and 1.50m."
The rider based in Montpellier outstripped Simon Lorrain, who finished in second position in 37.77 seconds and the Irish Denis Lynch, victorious yesterday, third in this Grand Prix with a time of 37.87 seconds.
The favourite class of the audience is indubitably the six bars of this Saturday night at the Jumping International de Valence, the Prix Mercedes-Benz. If last week, the class ended with a 1,96m jump, they were six to overcome this amazing 1,95m jump tonight. The only one managing the final jump at 2,05m is the winner of the opening class of the CSI5* last Thursday: Pedro Junqueira Muylaert. Still riding his grey horse Chief Tibri Z MFS, the Brasilian imposed himself in front of an electric crowd.
The Prix Axeria, the 1.50m class against-the-clock of the CSI5*, ended with a new victory for Ireland: Cian O'Connor, riding Veneno. The couple, already ranked in fourth position in the opening class of the CSI5* of the Jumping International de Valence, finished in a record time of 59,68 seconds, nearly 3 seconds earlier than his competitors.
The opening class of the CSI2* of this Friday morning, the 1,35m Prix Hubside, was won by the Columbian Nicolas Toro, whereas the 1,40m Prix SFAM made the French Thomas Lévêque victorious.
Crowd and riders are expected tomorrow for the final day of this fourth edition of the Jumping International de Valence, with two major classes: the Grand Prix Haras des Grillons of the CSIU25 at 11:30 am and the Grand Prix Hubside of the CSI5* at 3:30 pm.
