A Womans’ Story & First Brazilian Victory in Chantilly! Luciana Lóssio Lights Up in the €105,500 Grand Prix Ville de Chantilly CSI 4*

By Jumper News on 2024-07-13

Chantilly, France – July 13, 2024 – A truly Grand Prix de Chantilly, with a remarkable 50 contenders at the start, but only five of whom scraped through to the second round. Olympic course designer Gregory Bodo’s course proved to be rather unforgiving today, which made the victory of Brazil’s Luciana Lossio (BRA) with her 14-year-old mare, Lady Louise JMen, all the more impressive in front of a full house. It was another magical installment of a prestigious event, well established on the agendas of show jumping afficionados.

Thirteen obstacles were on the program for the first round, including a double and triple, all culminating to a healthy 1.50m. The first round was “divided” into two parts, as some obstacles needed to be moved on account of the ground, which had been blighted by the week’s inclement weather. This meant that the last twenty-five competitors on the fifty rider start list had to get to know the course all over again. However, despite his 16-fault effort with Equine America Unick du Francport, John Whitaker (GBR) didn’t necessarily jump to blame the terrain: “I don’t think the ground is that bad, but today riders are used to tracks which are a bit too perfect.”

**Luciana Lóssio** (BRA) & **Lady Louise JMen**

After recalibrating the odds, two more clear rounds emerged in addition to the three from the first half. This meant five candidates, four of which were women, were left to battle it out over the seven element jump-off. No matter the beginning of the story, the Grand Prix jump-off is always an exciting moment, and this one was no exception. The first clear round came from French rider Ines Joly (FRA) with Platini De Kalvarie, only a week after her first 5* victory. She laid down a competitive time, but American Alise Oken (USA) and Gelvera immediately shaved it down by a few hundredths.

The afternoon turned out to be a women’s only affair, as France’s Valentin Besnard (FRA) with Diamantina Beaufour was soon excused from the ladies debate after collecting some faults. Northern France’s Juliette Faligot (FRA) and her lively Arqana de Riverland then took over the lead, but it was clear that this Grand Prix de Chantilly Classic was destined for Brazil.

With no real plan, “I just galloped and galloped,” said Luciana Lóssio (BRA), who took the title with a gap of over two seconds! This is my greatest victory, and it takes on an even greater dimensions in this incredible place, between these two palaces. It’s incredible, I’m so happy. It’s the first time I’ve been here and it’s like a dream come true,” said an emotional Luciana.

In fact, this win comes as no great surprise, for although she has only been competing on the international circuit for three years, the Brazilian and her brilliant bay mare already boast a string of successes in CSI 5*, including victory in the Grand Prix of Wellington, Florida, last spring. Now temporarily based in Belgium, Luciana will return to Brazil…with stars in her eyes.