The third and last week of Autumn MET I 2022 concluded with a Belgian victory in Sunday’s CSI3* 1.50m Grand Prix presented by CHG – Construcciones Hispano Germanas S.A, with Nicola Philippaerts and the 10-year-old H&M Luna van’T Ruytershof Z (Levisto Z x For Pleasure) taking the top honours.
The 1.50m course set by Dutch mastermind Louis Konickx counted 13 obstacles and 16 efforts, and with a related line from a liverpool at fence number eight followed by an oxer at fence number nine and a triple combination at fence number ten, it asked plenty of questions from the starter field of 33. Eventually, eight horse-and-rider combinations cleared the track, and as the second pair out in the jump-off Philippaerts and Luna van’T Ruytershof Z – who were the quickest in last weekend’s CSI3* 1.50m Grand Prix presented by Oliva Nova Beach & Golf Resort, but had one fence down – stopped the clock on 36.41, a time that proved unbeatable.
“We always try to come here with a few horses to build them up,” Nicola Philippaerts – who along with his whole family are frequent quests at Oliva Nova – said about the MET venue. Speaking of the today’s Grand Prix course, he said: “I think the course today was very fair; the time was good, the jumps were good and I think we had enough clears – even if there were not so many in the Grand Prix today. I am happy I won it!”
The 10-year-old Luna van’T Ruytershof Z looks like another superstar in the making for Philippaerts. “I think she is an unbelievable mare, we bought her last year,” the Belgian rider said. “She can be a bit hot and strong, but she has really developed very well over the last months. She had one fault in a four-star Grand Prix at Sentower Park, then she won the Belgian Championship in Lanaken, and last weekend we had the fastest time here in the jump-off for the three-star Grand Prix – and today we got a win! I think I can be very happy, as my father and Charlotte Söderström from H&M co-own her: I am delighted as there is not too much pressure on selling her, so hopefully I can have another good horse for the top sport. She is easier than my championship horse Katanga vh Dingeshof, and I think she has all the potential. She just started very late; last year she was only jumping 1.30m classes. I have really taken my time with her. Now, she will have a few weeks off and then I think she will go to CSI5*-W Verona with Katanga. I will try to build her up, and hopefully one day, she can be as good as Katanga.”
Last to go in the jump-off, Melanie Cloarec (FRA) and Nora de Mariposa Pleville (Elvis Ter Putte x Berlin) crossed the finish line in 36.69 seconds slotting into the runner-up position and pushing Tomas Galilea (ARG) on Vertigo Waf (Van Helsing x Contendro I) down to finish third. Ben Maher (GBR) and his new mount Dallas Vegas Batilly (Cap Kennedy x l’Arc de Triomphe Bois Margot) had to settle for the fourth place in the end, after clocking the fastest time of the class – 34.35 – but on the expense of the last fence falling, while Marie Demonte (FRA) on Drisse du Phare (Newton de Kreisker x Olala de Buissy) placed fifth with four faults in a time of 36.75.
F. © 1Clicphoto
The 1.50m course set by Dutch mastermind Louis Konickx counted 13 obstacles and 16 efforts, and with a related line from a liverpool at fence number eight followed by an oxer at fence number nine and a triple combination at fence number ten, it asked plenty of questions from the starter field of 33. Eventually, eight horse-and-rider combinations cleared the track, and as the second pair out in the jump-off Philippaerts and Luna van’T Ruytershof Z – who were the quickest in last weekend’s CSI3* 1.50m Grand Prix presented by Oliva Nova Beach & Golf Resort, but had one fence down – stopped the clock on 36.41, a time that proved unbeatable.
“We always try to come here with a few horses to build them up,” Nicola Philippaerts – who along with his whole family are frequent quests at Oliva Nova – said about the MET venue. Speaking of the today’s Grand Prix course, he said: “I think the course today was very fair; the time was good, the jumps were good and I think we had enough clears – even if there were not so many in the Grand Prix today. I am happy I won it!”
The 10-year-old Luna van’T Ruytershof Z looks like another superstar in the making for Philippaerts. “I think she is an unbelievable mare, we bought her last year,” the Belgian rider said. “She can be a bit hot and strong, but she has really developed very well over the last months. She had one fault in a four-star Grand Prix at Sentower Park, then she won the Belgian Championship in Lanaken, and last weekend we had the fastest time here in the jump-off for the three-star Grand Prix – and today we got a win! I think I can be very happy, as my father and Charlotte Söderström from H&M co-own her: I am delighted as there is not too much pressure on selling her, so hopefully I can have another good horse for the top sport. She is easier than my championship horse Katanga vh Dingeshof, and I think she has all the potential. She just started very late; last year she was only jumping 1.30m classes. I have really taken my time with her. Now, she will have a few weeks off and then I think she will go to CSI5*-W Verona with Katanga. I will try to build her up, and hopefully one day, she can be as good as Katanga.”
Last to go in the jump-off, Melanie Cloarec (FRA) and Nora de Mariposa Pleville (Elvis Ter Putte x Berlin) crossed the finish line in 36.69 seconds slotting into the runner-up position and pushing Tomas Galilea (ARG) on Vertigo Waf (Van Helsing x Contendro I) down to finish third. Ben Maher (GBR) and his new mount Dallas Vegas Batilly (Cap Kennedy x l’Arc de Triomphe Bois Margot) had to settle for the fourth place in the end, after clocking the fastest time of the class – 34.35 – but on the expense of the last fence falling, while Marie Demonte (FRA) on Drisse du Phare (Newton de Kreisker x Olala de Buissy) placed fifth with four faults in a time of 36.75.
F. © 1Clicphoto