“TUDO BEM” FOR MARLON MODOLO ZANOTELLI !
The World n°5, Marlon Modolo Zanotelli, brilliantly honoured Brazil in the Hubside Jumping Grimaud – Golfe de St Tropez arena by winning two consecutive classes with each of his two greys. Firstly, with Chili in the CSI2*, he took the 1.45m Grand Prix and then continued his winning streak by claiming the major class of the day, the CSI5* 1.50m Grand Prix, riding his son of Chacco Blue, the stallion Cartaro 2. Great Britain’s Guy Williams, also in great form, won the CSI5* 1.45m class with Rouge de Ravel.
And two for the South American !
Marlon Modolo Zanotelli won the top class on this Saturday 25th of September, the CSI 5* 1.50m Grand Prix. Brazil’s Marlon Modolo Zanotelli, individual and team champion at the last Pan-American Games (2019 in Lima) gave the other competitors no chance with Cartaro 2. Of the 29 starters, 11 found the key to successfully clearing the 13 obstacles and 16 jumping efforts offered by course designer Cédric Longis, thus qualifying for the jump-off. The before last to start this second stage, the pair, who set off at a good tempo, settled matters by crossing the finishing line 36.77s and pushing France’s Simon Delestre out of the top slot. “The show here is incredible,” said the winner. “The organising team and Sadri Fegaier have been doing a superb job for several years, especially during the pandemic when they were a great help to us because we were able to compete at Grimaud. Cartaro is a fantastic horse, I’m very lucky to have him. This is our 4th or 5th show together and each time he’s been placed. He was 2nd in our last Grand Prix at Opglabeek, 2nd in Valkenswaard and he won a class in Knokke, he’s really consistent. I’m even happier because it’s our first 5*. The first round was tricky, but the jump-off was even more so, with a double of uprights, which always causes faults, however, he’s so respectful and fast that’s it wasn’t a problem for us. I didn’t look too much at what the other competitors did before me but Jean Maurice Bonneau (Brazil’s chef d’équipe) told me, before entering the ring, that in the last line it was possible to do 8 strides instead of 9. That’s what I did, and we won! Tomorrow for the Grand Prix I’ll be riding Diarca, a mare who’s just 10 years old, for whom it’ll be a first at this level and who, like Cartaro, belongs to Marie-Cindy Van Der Straeten.” Great Britain’s Guy Williams with Cicero II, last to go in the jump-off, gave everything in order to try and catch Zanotelli. He finished 2nd in 37.77s. Third place was taken by the France’s Simon Delestre with I Amelusina R 51 (38.81s).
A great day for Brazil as just a few hours earlier Zanotelli also brilliantly took the 1.45m CSI 2* Grand Prix with the 9-year-old grey mare Chili against 54 other starters, a class where only 8 qualified for the jump-off. Last to enter the ring, the World n° 5 knocked 3 seconds off the previous best time (42.37s). “The course was quite technical, but still fun to ride, especially for my mare who’s still young, she learnt a lot today!” Explained Zanotelli “The course designer did a really good course, there were only 8 of us in the jump-off, I was lucky enough to go at the end and so was able to watch everyone. There weren’t many clear rounds, only Laura (Kraut), so I really had everything to play for, and then, even if a bar fell, it would have just been more experience for her. Chili is very talented and I really think that in the future she’ll perform just as well at 5* level.” The American champion Laura Kraut, with Haley, finished 2nd in 45.06s. France’s Laurent Guillet was 3rd in 44.06s but left a pole on the ground.
Do the British want to take over Grimaud? After Holly Smith’s double on friday, it was Guy Williams this afternoon who, a few hours before his second place in the Grand Prix, was flying the Union Jack in the ring. With Rouge de Ravel, a 16 year old stallion, he won – two weeks after his victory in the CSI 2* – 1.45m Grand Prix in Bonheiden (BEL) – the CSI 5* (1.45m) speed class against 31 other starters in 34.97s. France’s Marie Pellegrin with Alcazar du Moulin was second in 36.45s, while the winner of the Valencia’s CSI 5* Grand Prix (22nd August), Olivier Perreau, rounded off the leading trio in 36.59s with Gl Events Dolce Deceuninck.
Italy’s Giulia Martinengo Marquet won the CSI 2* KUBE 1.35m speed class. Accompanied by Casper Vd Rode Poelhoeve, a gelding she’s been riding for more than four years, the rider crossed the finish line in 68.09s, winning the class against 40 other competitors. “Casper is a naturally very fast horse, he’s a 10 year old, he knows his job, I just have to let him go and he knows what to do. Even if we never do big classes together, it’s always a pleasure to win.“ she said. Winner on Thursday in the 1.30m CSI 2* speed class, France’s Margaux Rocuet was placed second this time with Bonnie du Park in 68.47s. The winner of friday’s 1.30m (CSI 2*), Great Britain’s Jackson Reed Stephenson was 3rd with Obelia Vd Bisschop (68.65s).
The Marseillaise for Noame Bernardin in the 1.30m CSI 1* speed class. Riding a mare who is only just 7 years old, Elsass du Mezel, the French rider completed her round in 69.59s “It’s only our second 1.30m with Elsass, so to be at the top of the leader board is really gratifying”, explained the delighted rider. Completing the podium on her own was Spain’s Susana Epaillard, with Beefeater d’Auge (70.96s) and Urpita One (71.29s), 2nd and 3rd respectively.
In the 1.15m CSI 1* Grand Prix, the honours went again to Brazil thanks to Ana Eliza Aguiar Ramos and Iris Imperio Egipcio. In second place, Mexico’s Sara Maria Hank Guerreiro with Catokia 2, then, to complete the podium, France’s Charlotte Leoni and the young Favorite d’Aiguilly.
Today, the eagerly awaited CSI 5* 1.60m Grand Prix, the highlight of this weekend of competition, will see the World’s best competing against each other!
RESULTS HERE https://online.equipe.com/fr/competitions/43566
Hubside Jumping Grimaud – Golfe de St Tropez | Photo ©Sportfot
HSJ
