The first 5* star of the year has proven successful for Belgian riders. Olivier Philippaerts and Gregory Wathelet dominated on Day 1 (Thursday 8th) of the 5* show in Basel, Switzerland. Olivier Philippaerts took the 1.45m speed class with the 10 year old gelding King de Papignies Z ( x Kashmir van'T Schuttershof). He won by a narrow margin over runner up Steve Guerdat & Albfuehren's Memphis ( x Carthago ). Brazilian rider Marlon Modolo Zanotelli took third place with Meredith Michaels Beerbaum's former mount Malou ( x .Maloubet de Pleville ). Full Results Day 1 concluded with a 1.55m course and it was Gregory Wathelet who took the win aboard his WEG mount, the 10 year old stallion Conrad de Hus ( x Con Air ). Fourteen horse and rider combinations qualified for the jump-off but only seven of those managed to go double clear. Gregory set the pace early and proved hard to beat. In the end he took top spot while Rolf-Göran bengtsson took runner up spot aboard the 16 year old stallion Casall ASK ( x Caretino ). Home rider Niklaus Rutschi completed the podium with the 12 year old gelding Windsor XV ( x Karandasj ). Full Results Photo : Gregory Wathelet at the WEG - Equnews.fr
