Steve Guerdat & Easy Star de Talma Dazzle in the Demeures de Campagne Derby de La Baule CSIO 5*

By Jumper News on 2025-06-08

La Baule, France – June 07, 2025 – Riding the French horse Easy Star de Talma, world no. 6 Steve Guerdat (SUI) from Switzerland emerged victorious from the historic and prestigious €56,800 Demeures de Campagne Derby de La Baule CSIO 5*, ahead of the Frenchman Nicolas Layec (FRA).

“At last!”, exclaimed the Swiss rider Steve Guerdat right after clinching victory in the La Baule – Demeures de Campagne Derby, riding his Selle Français stallion Easy Star de Talma. Runner-up last year and a regular fixture among the top spots, the 2012 Olympic gold medallist, three-time World Cup winner, victor at some of the most prestigious venues on Earth and current world no. 5 has long professed his affection for the La Baule Derby, which is part of the heritage of equestrian sports.

**Steve Guerdat** (SUI) & **Easy Star de Talma**

“Oddly enough, before the competition, I had the feeling that everything was lining up and that this was going to be my year”, he confesses. “Everything was going my way. I was the last to go, so I had all the information. I knew that a clear round would do the trick, so I decided to keep up a good rhythm through the first two thirds of the course and, if I was still clear, to play it a bit safer towards the end.”

“My horse loves this competition and so do I. I’ve ridden the Derby better in the past than I did this year, but it felt as if it was meant to be. It’s for moments like this that we do sport with an atmosphere like the one at this show.” This will buoy his morale ahead of the Rolex Grand Prix Ville de La Baule on Sunday. “A Grand Prix is always different from a Derby”, he cautions. “But Dynamix de Belhème is in great form. We were close to the win last week in St. Gallen with a double clear in the Nations Cup, so I really think we’ve got a strong hand to play.”

**Nicolas Layec** (FRA) & **Georgio Louvo Z**

Nicolas Layec (FRA), the fastest of the four-faulters and a stellar runner-up in a competition that saw the course designer Grégory Bodo make a number of judicious adjustments to the track, was all smiles, even if a bit star-struck by the great Swiss champion. “I didn’t expect to be in the lead with only Steve left to go”, said the 30-year-old French rider, ranked 217^th in the world and celebrating the finest result of his career. “My horse is only 9 and had never tackled a competition like this. Whatever happened, I was already happy. Finishing second behind Steve, someone I’ve always admired so much, feels like a win to me. I’m keeping a photo of the podium!”