Vejer de La Frontera – February 18, 2023 – The €27,300 Small Grand Prix CSI 4* was the main attraction on Saturday at the Andalucía Sunshine Tour CSI 4*. Held in the David Broome arena, it was full of tension and exciting up to the very last moment. It had looked like Steve Guerdat (SUI) was going to be the winner of this class as he rode a super round on the agile stallion, Double Jeu d’Honvault, but it was not to be.
Second last to go, Manuel Fernandez Saro (ESP) rode in a great forward rhythm around the jump off track, keeping the momentum through smart, tight turns and slipped into the lead, knocking more than a second off Guerdat’s time, much to the delight of the home crowd in the stands.
His long term partner, the 12-year-old Spanish Sport Horse gelding, Jarlin de Torres (Jarnac x Calvaro), is owned by Yeguada Cortijo de Torres and has been with Manuel since 2018, and together they competed in the 2022 World Championship and also in two Nations Cups.Today they stopped the clock in 40.07 seconds for the win.
Steve Guerdat (SUI) had to settle for a well deserved second place in 41.14 seconds with Double Jeu D’Honvault (Kannan xCook du Midour).
Third and fourth places were taken by British riders, Jane Annett (GBR) with Billy Tudor (Cevin Z x Andiamo Z) and Will Edwards (GBR) with SHW Candies B (Chacco-Blue x Heartbreaker). In fifth place, it was the Irish rider, Jack Ryan (IRL) with Catch-Me Van Berkenbroeck (Cicero Van Paemel x Nonstop).
Final Results – €27,300 Small Grand Prix CSI 4*
1) Manuel Fernandez Saro (ESP) & Jarlin de Torres – 0 / 0 – 40.07
2) Steve Guerdat (SUI) & Double Jeu D’Honvault – 0 / 0 – 41.14
3) Jane Annett (GBR) & Billy Tudor– 0 / 0 – 41.47
Source: Press Release (edited) from Andalucía Sunshine Tour
Photo: © Sunshine Tour / Moises Basallote Fotografia
Categories: CSI 4*, English, Jumper News España
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