Oliva Nova, Spain – December 17, 2023 – The third and last part of the Autumn MET 2023 at Centro Ecuestre Oliva Nova, Spain, concluded with a home win for Laura Roquet Puignero (ESP) and the 9-year-old Denis Z (Dakar VDL x Classido, bred by Juan Guillermo Llull) in the CSI3* 1.50m Grand Prix presented by Oliva Nova Beach & Golf Resort.
Eight pairs out of the 60 horse-and-rider-combinations at start cleared the first-round track set by Isabel Fernandez de Cañete in the Oliva Nova arena and joined the deciding jump-off, where Roquet Puignero and Denis Z took the top honours after the clock stopped on 37.49 for the Spanish pair.
“I liked the course,” the happy winner said afterwards. “It was technical, with a lot of options; to the last, you could do five or six, and there were other choices to take as well earlier on in the course – it was a nice Grand Prix. In the jump-off, I was third to go, and I tried to go a little bit, but my horse is only nine and this was her second Grand Prix. She does not have so much experience, but I tried and we were very lucky – I am so happy how it worked out today.”
“I bought her when she was five,” Roquet Puignero said about her winning ride Denis Z. “I have done everything with her, from the youngster classes as a six- and seven-year-old. Last year, when she was eight, we started to do some ranking classes and now that she is nine, she has done two Grand Prix classes. I am so happy with her; she is so brave! She has a lot of blood, and always tries really hard. I think that in the future, she can jump the biggest classes; I am so happy to ride her. Next year, I hope we can do more three-star events and maybe one day in the future, also four- and five-star shows – hopefully.”
“We are really, really happy to have a place like Oliva,” Roquet Puignero, who lives in Barcelona, said about the venue. “All the arenas are great and the weather here is super, my horses are very happy here – and so am I.”
With a time of 37.61, Ellen Whitaker (GBR) and Amaretto Daisy (Amaretto Darco x Tresor des Cheux, bred by Ronan Byrne) took the runner-up spot behind Roquet Puignero, while Simon Widmann (GER) and Qlawella Denfer (Qlassic Bois Margot x Litsam, bred by Philippe Berthol) placed third in 38.46, Christian Rhomberg (AUT) and Dianca Z (Diamant de Semilly x Casall, bred by Mathijs Moors) fourth in 39.07 and Jane Annett (GBR) aboard Impala (Otangelo x Kojak, bred by D.W.G. Wassink) fifth in 41.30.
Harold Boisset (FRA) and T’Obetty du Domaine (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Diams du Grasset, bred by M. Christian Moulin) posted the quickest round of the afternoon, crossing the finish line in 35.89, but a fence down left them sixth in the end.
After a break over Christmas, action returns to Centro Ecuestre Oliva Nova in January, when the first part of Spring MET 2024 kicks off on January 9, 2024.
Final Results – €53,050 Oliva Nova Beach & Golf Resort Grand Prix CSI 3*
1) Laura Roquet Puignero (ESP) & Denis Z – 0 / 0 – 37.49
2) Ellen Whitaker (GBR) & Amaretto Daisy – 0 / 0 – 37.61
3) Simon Widmann (GER) & Qlawella Denfer – 0 / 0 – 38.46
Source: Press Release from the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour
Photos: © MET / Hervé Bonnaud / http://www.1clicphoto.com
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Categories: CSI 3*, English, Jumper News España
