Knokke Heist, Belgium – June 27, 2019 – The Belgian riders came strong in force to the opening day of the second week of 2019 Knokke Hippique, and Dominique Hendrickx gave it the best possible conclusion when winning the feature class of the day – the  La €25,000 La Reserve Prize CSI 5*.

Dominique Hendrickx (BEL) & Vintadge de La Roque

Home riders had been dominating Thursday’s classes, and there would be no exception to that in the last competition of the day. Coming in as no. thirteen in the order, as the sun set over the main ring Zoute Plage, Hendrickx was in a league of his own when blazing around the track and overcoming all the 1.50m obstacles on Vintadge de La Roque (Kannan x Galoubet A) to take the lead in 58.24 seconds.

No one else could get close to Hendrickx’s time, runners-up Bertram Allen (IRL) and GK Casper (Canto 16 x Quantum) had recorded the time of 60.28 seconds prior to the Belgian rider’s speed demonstration. Third place went to Allen’s compatriot Cian O’Connor (IRL) and Irenice Horta (Vigo d’Arsouilles STX x Diamant de Semilly), after stopping the clock at 60.32 seconds.

Francois Mathy Jr. secured two Belgian riders within the top five as he followed in fourth, while Scott Brash (GBR) finished fifth.

Dominique Hendrickx (BEL) & Vintadge de La Roque

Winner’s Circle – Dominique Hendrickx

“My plan was to be as fast as possible,” Hendrickx commented on his round. “But I also wanted to be clever about it, and to be clear without messing up this class and the following days. I had a really good beginning already over the three first fences, where I got my first distance and a short turn. I knew I was fast, because my horse is a fast horse, but on this level with these riders, you never know. I see them on television every week and I know how fast they can be – so I was a little bit worried.”

“My horse is a 10-year-old gelding by Kannan x Galoubet. I have been riding him for a month and a half, I think this is only the fourth show I do with him, so the future looks really good,” Hendrickx smiled. “I plan to ride Koriano in the Rolex Grand Prix on Sunday, and Vintadge is going to jump again tomorrow and on Saturday.”

Dominique Hendrickx (BEL) & Vintadge de La Roque

For full results, please click here.

Source: Press release from Knokke Hippique

Photos: © Knokke Hippique / Jeroen Willems