19 Dezember '23
Victory for Laura Roquet Puignero and Denis Z in the CSI3* GP of Oliva
© Hervé Bonnaud
Last weekend, people could enjoy the denouement of the third and final part of the Autumn Mediterranean Equestrian Tour in Oliva. The highlight of the weekend was undoubtedly the CSI3* GP on Sunday afternoon, which had a dream winner for the Spanish public. It was home rider Laura Roquet Puignero who managed to claim victory with her 9-year-old chestnut mare Denis Z, a daughter of Daker VDL and Classido who was bred by Juan Guillermo Llull. Roquet Puignero and Denis Z also ensured a clear round on both Thursday and Friday and during the CSI3* GP they were one of the 8 combinations that managed to qualify for the jump-off. As the 3rd combination at the start, they managed to stop the clock in 37.49 seconds and with that performance the outclass the competition.
Laura Roquet Puignero: “I liked the course. It was technical, with a lot of options; to the last, you could do five or six, and there were other choices to take as well earlier on in the course. In the jump-off, I was third to go, and I tried to go a little bit, but my horse is only nine and this was her second Grand Prix. She does not have so much experience, but I tried and we were very lucky – I am so happy how it worked out today.”
“I bought her when she was five and have done everything with her, from the youngster classes as a six- and seven-year-old. Last year, when she was eight, we started to do some ranking classes and now that she is nine, she has done two Grand Prix classes. I am so happy with her; she is so brave! She has a lot of blood, and always tries really hard. I think that in the future, she can jump the biggest classes; I am so happy to ride her. Next year, I hope we can do more three-star events and maybe one day in the future, also four- and five-star shows – hopefully.”
Who also managed to qualify for the jump-off during this CSI3* GP was the Austrian rider Christian Rhomberg with the also 9-year-old mare Dianca Z, a daughter of Diamant de Semilly and Casall who was bred by Mathijs Moors. They also managed to keep it clear again in that jump-off and with a finishing time of 39.07 seconds they managed to take 4th place.
Earlier on Sunday, a 1.45m high Longines Ranking class was also on the program and in this class the Luxembourg rider Victor Bettendorf jumped into the picture with the 8-year-old gelding Atchoum de la Roque Z (Armitages Boy x Bentley vd Heffinck – B : EURL Top Stallions Company). Bettendorf and Atchoum de la Roque Z, who also took 2nd place during the 1.40m class on the opening day on Thursday, kept it clear in both the 1st and the 2nd phase, which earned them a 4th place in the rankings this time.
During the 1.50m high Longines Ranking class on Saturday, the Brazilian rider Carlos Eduardo Mota Ribas jumped to a podium place with the 11-year-old stallion Night Secret Z (Nonstop x Singular Joter – B: Alexander Rohling). In a jump-off for which 9 combinations were able to qualify, Mota Ribas and Night Secret Z kept it clear again and with this performance they secured 2nd place in the rankings.
Also on Saturday, the Norwegian lady rider Cecillie Hatteland was placed with the 9-year-old mare Tourelle Z (Toulon x Fedor – F: Luc Didden). During the Gold 1.40m class, they kept all the poles in the cups, which was good for a 4th place in the rankings.
Last but not least, it was also a successful show for the French rider Guillaume Foutrier with the 10-year-old grey mare Corneska de la Falize Z, a daughter of Cornet Obolensky and President who was bred by Alain and Remy Gilson of Ecurie de la Falize. Foutrier and Corneska de la Falize Z started their show with a 5th place during the 1.40m class on Thursday and a day later followed a 9th place during the 1.45m high Longines Ranking class.