Dexter Fontenis Z jumps to silver in the CSI5* GP of Doha

The week before the start of the new season of the Longines Global Champions Tour, the beautiful accommodation of Al Shaqab in Doha traditionally the setting for the Commercial Bank CHI Al Shaqab. On Saturday evening, all eyes were focussed on the CSI5* GP and in that the French rider Simon Delestre again managed to deliver a top performance with his 10-year-old gelding Dexter Fontenis Z, a son of Diarado and Voltaire who was bred by Jérôme Hennau and the current number 5 of our Z-ranking.

The show of Al Shaqab in Doha is firmly marked in the agenda of the former number 1 in the world. Exactly one year ago, Delestre and Dexter Fontenis Z jumped already into the spotlight with a victory in a 1.50m class and a 2nd place in a 1.45m class. And this year's edition was another success story for the duo. During the CSI5* GP, Delestre and Dexter Fontenis Z were one of the 7 combinations that managed to keep it clear in both the first and the second round and so qualified for the jump-off. And in that jump-off he had the luxury of being the very last to start again. He again managed to keep all the poles in the cups and with a finish time of 42.03 seconds he only had to tolerate the German rider Marcus Ehning (Stargold) in front of him.

Simon Delestre: “When I saw Marcus, for sure I knew he was fast. There was only one place where I could not take all the risk with Dexter. However, we have to remember he is only ten, this was one of his first really tough Grand Prix classes outside, so the line with the nine strides going into the combination, I had to do ten because a few times when I have taken the first distance, I got to deep – so I knew I had to slow down at this place. For the rest, I did my best, but Marcus was faster.

Furthermore iIt was also a successful show for the Dutch rider Maikel van der Vleuten with his 13-year-old gelding Beauville Z N.O.P. (Bustique x Jumpy des Fontaines – B: Pascal Habets). The bronze medalists of the Olympic Games in Tokyo started their show on Thursday with an 8th place during the 1.45m high opening class and on Saturday followed a 4th place in the 1.50m class.

Finally, the French lady rider Alexa Ferrer was also placed in Doha with her 12-year-old mare Naiade d'Elsendam Z (Nabab de Rêve x Quattro B – B: François Verhulst). They jumped to a 9th place in the ranking during the 1.45m high opening class on Thursday.