The sun is out in the French capital of Paris. In the 1.45m opening class of the CSI5 Saut Hermès*, Willem Greve immediately jumped to victory with the 11-year-old Candy Luck Z (Comme Il Faut).
Greve and his talented mount delivered a blistering clear round, crossing the timers in 31.84 seconds to secure the top spot. The duo narrowly edged out local favorite Julien Gonin (FRA), who took second place aboard the 11-year-old stallion Flam de La Chatelaine (L'Arc de Triomphe*Bois Margot).
After his win Willem Greve reacted: "It’s obviously the best way to kick off the competition, gushed the Dutchman. I just hope that things will end on a high on Sunday too. My mare is very quick and a wonderful ride. I competed at the Grand Palais Éphémère twice but it’s my first time on this course under the glass roof. It’s simply incredible. You can sense the weight of history. It’s really very special.” Second, just 17 hundredths of a second behind with Flam de la Chatelaine, an 11-year-old stallion, Frenchman Julien Gonin was also beaming from ear to ear. “I’m happy! I’ve only had this horse for eleven months! Who would have thought it? He stepped up to the plate once again and I’m very proud of him. It’s really great and it’s an ideal way to start the competition.”
International Podium
Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano ensured an international flavor on the podium, finishing third with the 13-year-old BWP stallion Nikolaj de Music (Kannan). Gaudiano’s performance on the Walter Lelie-bred stallion was just enough to stay ahead of Jeremy Le Roy (FRA) and Falkira de Mormoulins (Cornet Obolensky), who finished fourth.
The top five was rounded out by Swiss star Martin Fuchs, who jumped a flawless clear round with the 10-year-old KWPN mare Love de Vie (Grandorado TN).
