Oliva Nova, Valencia, Spain – January 21, 2024 – Belgium’s Constant Van Paesschen and Diaz du Thot (Ready Boy des Forets x Diams du Grasset, bred by E.A.R.L. Elevage du Thot) won the 57,450 Grand Prix CSI 3*, presented by Oliva Nova Beach & Golf Resort as the second week of Spring MET I 2024 concluded at Centro Ecuestre Oliva Nova in Spain on Sunday.
With a time of 40.90 seconds in the jump-off between fifteen horse-and-rider-combinations, Van Paesschen took the win ahead of Germany’s Philipp Weishaupt (GER) and Coby 8 (Contagio x Escudo 19, bred by Jürgen Geffken) in second in 41.09 seconds.
“I am fortunate to have a good friend in Scott Brash,” Van Paesschen said after his victory. “He helped me in the warm-up today and said I should not go and chase Philipp’s time, because he was very fast. I told him that my mare is very quick, but my plan was to ride for the second place and then see where we would end up. I told Scott that if I would get a good first turn, I would maybe risk a bit more. And the turn was good, so then I risked more than planned.”
“She is an unbelievable horse,” Van Paesschen said about his 11-year-old Diaz du Thot. “I have had her since she was six, and she has been winning her whole life. She is just a winner, a trier, she is an unbelievable mare. Before I was getting on her, I told her that if she would jump good today, she would get a week off next week. And before the jump-off, I told her that if she jumped another good round, I would only ride her at the beach for two weeks – and I think she understood me.”
“Oliva is a great place,” Van Paesschen – a familiar face at the venue – said about Centro Ecuestre Oliva Nova. “The arenas are good, the warm-ups are good; everything is good.”
Koen Vereecke (BEL) and Lector vd Bisschop (Bamako de Muze x For Pleasure, bred by Tom De Craene) placed third with a time of 41.52 seconds, while Clement Boulanger (FRA) and Ghanati (Epleaser van’T Heike x Quadrillo, bred by Karen Van De Woestijne) finished fourth in 42.32, followed by Jörne Sprehe (GER) aboard Sprehe Hot Easy (Andiamo Z x Otangelo, bred by R. Teunissen) in fifth in 42.80.
Next week, Spring MET I 2024 moves on to its third and last week, and will be followed by Spring MET II in February, Spring MET III in March and Spring MET IV in April.
Final Results – €57,450 Oliva Nova Beach & Golf Resort Grand Prix CSI 3*
1) Constant van Paesschen (BEL) & Diaz du Thot – 0 / 0 – 40.90
2) Philipp Weishaupt (GER) and Coby – 0 / 0 – 41.09
3) Koen Vereecke (BEL) & Lector vd Bisschop – 0 / 0 – 41.52
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 Belgie
