Paris, France – March 15, 2024 – Late morning this Friday, French rider Edward Lévy (FRA) won the €28,200 Prix du Grand Palais CSI 5*, the first event of the Saut Hermès, hosted in the Grand Palais Éphémère arena. Riding Confidence d’Ass, a 12-year-old French Saddle mare, the 29-year-old rider managed to optimise every stride and every turn of the course created by the Spanish course designer Santiago Varela Ullastres (ESP) to kick-off the competition in style.
Fourth out of forty-nine riders at the start of this two-phase event with jumps set at 1.45, the Frenchman secured a reference time (22’’40) which only his compatriot Julien Anquetin (FRA), who set off in second position with Farah Tame, came close to matching less than a second behind 22’’86).
Kevin Staut (FRA) completes the 100% French podium with Cloe GP Z (23’’86), a mare he has only been riding for a few weeks.
Racking up a very fast time aboard GL Events Dolce Deceuninck (22’’26), Olivier Perreau (FRA) narrowly missed out on victory after picking up a fault as he came into the double fence, which took him out of contention for this event.
Winner’s Circle – Edward Lévy (FRA)
“It’s fantastic to be able to begin a competition like this, especially here in Paris, at the Saut Hermès, admits the reigning French champion. When I came across Julien (Anquetin) in the paddock, he teased me and said “go ahead and try”. I immediately got into a very good stride at the first oxer and I tried to maintain the same rhythm. My mare really lends herself to this type of event. She’s incredible and is often at the top of the leader board. She’s a genius in her category. She belongs to my farrier and his wife and arrived in my stables at the end of the year at 7 years of age. Her heart is bigger than her and she has an extraordinary amount of respect! We have a lot of fun together.”
Final Results – €28,200 Prix du Grand Palais CSI 5*
1) Edward Lévy (FRA) & Confidence d’Ass – 0 / 0 – 22.40
2) Julien Anquetin (FRA) & Farah Tame – 0 / 0 – 22.86
3) Kevin Staut (FRA) & Cloe GP Z – 0 / 0 – 23.86
Source: Press Release from Saut Hermès
Photos: © Saut Hermès / Christophe Tanière
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Categories: CSI 5*, English, Jumper News France
