Astier on top after dramatic Pau

It was a busy weekend for Horse Trials, with Les Etoiles de Pau CCI4* in France hosting the final stage. Home star and Olympic champion Astier Nicolas with Molokai took the lead after the dressage and the cross country, with one of only 2 clear rounds inside the time. It was not really a cakewalk on Pierre Michelet’s designed Pau course, made up of 45 fenches on 6kms, which caused significant issues for many riders. Of the 62 combinations that started on course, a third failed to complete and there were significant retirements, including Maxime Livio and New Zealand’s Mark Todd. Among the few pairs who managed to go home clear and inside the time, there were Cedric Lyard and Qatar du Puech who jumped from 27th to 4th position in the ranking thanks to their 11’09 performance.
Only Nicolas Astier atop of Molakai did better in 11’04“ and were catapulted from 14th place into the lead.  Another French rider also sat at the second position, with Gwendolen Fer and Romantic Love finishing in 11’18. press release CCI4* Pau 
photo Nicolas Astier FRA Molakai CCI4* PAU cross, credits Nicolas Hodys