This afternoon, the audience in Fontainebleau witnessed top-level sport. In the 1.55m CSI5* Masters - Prix FFE, Julien Anquetin claimed victory in front of his home crowd. Over two rounds, Anquetin kept the competition at bay with the 10-year-old Fulldollar de Raygade.
"It's really great, because Fulldollar de Raygade will be jumping in the Grand Prix tomorrow. So, I had to put in place a strategy and not go too easy. I kept the turns as short as possible. I managed to do seven short strides heading into the 3rd obstacle in the second round, and after that, everything went really smoothly. I even allowed myself to pull her back into order a bit for the last jump. I took a risk because I knew Marc Dilasser was riding after me, but I had to make a choice because I still have to ride in the Grand Prix with her tomorrow. From the outset, we had decided to have her jump on all three days. That is what suits her best; the more she jumps, the better she is. She will be continuing her season in Madrid, and after that, I hope to take her to the Nations Cup, but that's not for me to decide."
Anquetin and the 10-year-old daughter of El Torreo de Muze jumped to victory in 47.40 seconds. Just a few tenths of a second behind was Marc Dilasser with the SF gelding, Arioto du Gevres (Diamant de Semilly). Christian Ahlmann completed the top three.
The German rider rounded off the podium aboard the 11-year-old D'Aganix 2000 Z (Dominator 2000 Z).
Ahlmann and the Zangersheide-approved stallion pushed Roger-Yves Bost with the BWP gelding, Prins van 't Eigenlo (Vigo d'Arsouilles), into fourth place. Belgium’s Nathan Budd completed the top five, finishing among the prizes with his trusted stallion, Touardo Blue Z (Toulon).
