CSI 5* Gucci Grand Prix: Victory for Pénélope Leprevost and Mylord Carthago

The Marseillaise rang out this Sunday afternoon at the Gucci Masters, following the superb victory by Pénélope Leprevost and Mylord Carthago HN in the Gucci Grand Prix.

The final event of the 2011 Gucci Masters got underway at 2.45pm, with no fewer than 44 pairs all ready to battle it out for the honour of winning the prestigious Gucci Grand Prix.

First up was Germany’s European team champion, Janne Friederike Meyer, who jumped a clear round with Cellagon Lambrasco. Christian Ahlmann (GER) and Lorenzo 208 did the same, as did the winner of a previous Gucci Grand Prix back in 2009, Jos Lansink (BEL) riding Casper Van Spieveld.

Gerco Schröder (HOL) and Eurocommerce London also notched up a clear round, along with Kevin Staut (FRA) and Silvana de Hus.

Ludger Beerbaum and Gotha FRH just missed out on the jump off with 5 faults. France’s Patrice Delaveau and Orient Express started well, but a fault at the very last obstacle shattered their hopes of going through to the jump off.

There followed a string of clear rounds by Angelica Augustsson (SWE) and Mic Mac du Tillard, Olivier Guillon (FRA) and Lord de Theizé, David McPherson (GBR) and Billy Bishop, Judy-Ann Melchior (BEL) and Cha Cha Z and Eugénie Angot (FRA) and Old Chap Tame.

Riding Viking, Britain’s Michael Whitaker also booked a place in the final round, along with Pénélope Leprevost and Mylord Carthago HN. But Rolf-Göran Bengtsson and Quintero La Silla, winners of Saturday’s Gucci by Gucci Challenge, collected a penalty and missed out.

Pius Schwizer (SWI) and Verdi III added their names to the long list of qualifiers, which was completed by Laura Kraut (USA) and Cedric, Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Coriana van Klapscheut (2nd in the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final on Friday), Richard Spooner (USA) and Cristallo and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Checkmate 4.
Altogether, 17 pairs lined up for the jump off.

Then the faults started to stack up. Of the ten first out, only Kevin Staut and Silvana de Hus managed a second clear round in a time of 38’’51. Silvana, only just returning to competition after a well deserved break, was greeted with plenty of enthusiasm and warm applause from the Parisian crowds.

Michael Whitaker was the first to challenge the apparent supremacy of the European vice-champions. The British rider not only jumped a second clear round with Viking, but also posted the fastest time of 35’’34.

Pénélope Leprevost and Mylord Carthago HN also enjoyed loud support from the spectators and produced a magnificent clear round in a lightning time of 34’’40. The French pair went to the top of the leaderboard and stayed there.

Laura Kraut and Cedric also jumped clear, but their time was not quick enough to earn them a podium place.

Pius Schwizer and Verdi III went clear in a fast time but not quite fast enough! With 34’’48, the Swiss was forced to settle for second place. Richard Spooner (USA) / Cristallo and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER) / Checkmate 4 shared third spot. The two pairs both jumped clear rounds in the exact same time: 35’’23!

And so, like Jos Lansink in 2009 and Marco Kutscher in 2010, Pénélope Leprevost added her name to the roll of honour of the Gucci Grand Prix.

Quotes:

Pénélope Leprevost (FRA), 1st: “I took some risks on the course. Mylord was in great shape. We have an incredible understanding. I got him when he was 6 or 7. We’ve developed together and he’s kept me at the top. I’m very proud of him. The public love this horse and they like to see him like this, and I’m especially pleased to have won here in Paris in front of the French spectators.” On the upcoming programme for Mylord Carthago HN: “He’ll be in Geneva and then on a break at the stables. He’ll be mating for three months for semen exports. The long term goal is for him to be in shape for the French CSIO 5* in La Baule next May.”

Pius Schwizer (SWI), 2nd: “What you saw today is the fruit of a year’s hard work, and it paid off! I’m very happy for Pénélope (Leprevost) and for my second place. Yesterday she was so disappointed to have dislodged the bar on the last obstacle. I knew she’d be in form today.”

Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER), tied for 3rd: “When there are seventeen of you in a jump off, you have to go quick, as it’s a bit like a speed challenge. There was plenty of pressure. I focused on my task, I went as fast as I could and did my best. In the end, I am very pleased with my horse. He’s a great talent and is mentally strong. When he was younger he was not easy, but I can manage him well now. I’d even say I’ve got a star on my hands! It’s funny, because this morning, someone asked my 21 month-old daughter if her mummy was going to win. And she said no. So they asked her if I’d come second, and she said yes. It was a sign! (laughs)”

Richard Spooner (USA), tied for 3rd: “My horse was great and jumped very high. I made a little mistake on the second jump and held him back on the double. They were too good for me today!”

Christophe Ameeuw (EEM), organizer of the Gucci Masters: “Pénélope (Leprevost) has given us the greatest gift today by winning this Gucci Grand Prix in Paris, in front of a French audience. There were 6,000 people in the grandstands today and 1,500 special guests enjoying the hospitality. The whole three days have been a great success. It’s getting harder and harder to improve any more. The Gucci Masters has become a very important meeting on the international sporting calendar. We want to give the riders and the spectators here an event to last. I’d like to offer my thanks and congratulations to all the teams, riders, partners and the fantastic spectators at the Gucci Masters.”

Virginie Coupérie-Eiffel (Ambassadress of the Gucci Masters): “The Gucci Grand Prix was a top quality event, with some great champions, great horses and lots of emotion. There was magic in the air and everything was fun and enjoyable. I’d particularly like to thank the horses, who have given the spectators and everyone so much pleasure”.

Nelson Pessoa (EEM): On the forthcoming Hong Kong Masters (March 2012): “The riders here are all very experienced and are used to travelling almost every weekend. I’m sure they’ll be a hit with the Chinese.”