Bordeaux, France – February 04, 2023 – Swiss rider Steve Guerdat (SUI) loves these atmospheres, like the one in Bordeaux, where the public “carries” the sport and the athletes to victory. Four years after winning this FEI Longines World Cup Grand Prix with the chestnut Victorio des Frotards, the Swiss did it again on Saturday evening with his grey mare Is-Minka.

Is-Minka is a relatively young mare at this 5* level; last summer, she was still competing in 3* classes: “She’s a mare I’ve always had confidence in and I was sure she was going to deliver a performance of this level one day. I didn’t really think it would be at Bordeaux, but today she proved that I was right to have put my faith in her”. The victory was made all the more difficult by the fact that the Swiss was first to go in the jump-off: “It’s true that it’s never an advantage to start in this position. But in the end, I was quite happy because she started in the beginning of the class and so she had time to rest before the jump-off, and in the end that turned into an advantage for me”. Her lack of experience at this level was not a handicap for Is-Minka: “In this jump-off, there weren’t really any options and I knew what I wanted to do. I’ve been riding her since she was 7, so I know her very well and even though she hasn’t done many of these jump-offs, she’s won a lot of 3* Grand Prix on different arenas, so I know her by heart and I knew exactly what I could ask of her. I know that she likes jump-offs, that she likes to go fast, it’s often easier for her than the first rounds where the distances are a bit short for her”.

Steve Guerdat (SUI) also attributes part of his victory to the Bordeaux crowd, which transcends and pushes the riders to give their best: “It’s for atmospheres like these that I do this sport”. It’s also what brought France’s 22-year-old Jeanne Sadran (FRA) to the second step of the podium, very close to an historic result: “I’m not disappointed. I’m very happy, and it was an important class to pick up my last World Cup points and hope for the final in Riyadh. I’d seen Steve’s jump-off and frankly, I didn’t feel capable of going any faster. I knew that from the start. After that, I still played the game to get the best possible ranking and try to get ahead of Harry (Charles). But I’m aware that at the moment, I’m not capable of doing the short, flowing turns that Steve did. His rhythm was so fluid, I still need to work on that aspect. But I’m particularly happy with my horse, who gave it his all and today is definitely a turning point for me with my best ever 5* Grand Prix placing.”

A worthy son of his father Peter, the 2012 Olympic champion, who came to Bordeaux at the last minute to coach his son, Harry Charles (GBR), who already won the day before in Bordeaux but tonight had to accept that he would not be able to beat the Swiss European champion: “Sherlock is a very good horse but he is still very inexperienced at this level. He has won a World Cup in La Coruna but he has not done many 160 classes in his life so he is still a bit learning. I must say when I watched Steve’s round, he made it look very easy but riding it, I realized it was not as easy as Steve made it look. Of course, I wanted to go in and catch him but I knew after the first two fences that I had no chance. So, I just tried to keep the fences clear and do short turns where I could. Sherlock did a good job so I can’t complain. I think in the next six months he will learn to gain a little more speed; he will get even more competitive. The plan is to take him to the final but there is a big difference between a World Cup stage and a World Cup Final, I have to see if he is ready for it. As for the Olympic Games, I wish they would be in a year because then he would have been perfectly ready, so far, I do not know if we can make it for Paris 2024.”

The Jumping International de Bordeaux has once again worked its magic with a captivating jump-off and a fine podium. A podium rich in World Cup and Olympic hopes. Three horses and three riders that we can’t wait to see again in Riyadh or Paris. Showjumping is always a never-ending story, and Bordeaux is always writing chapters to remember.

Source: Press Release from Agence R&B Presse for Jumping Bordeaux

Photos: © Jumping Bordeaux / Artiste Associé

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