Saturday’s opening CSI5* class went to the Netherland’s 2012 Olympic Silver Medalist Marc Houtzager aboard the chestnut gelding Sterrehof’s Uppity. With the fastest round of the day at 50.54 seconds, Houtzager was the best of the 69 riders entered. “It was quite a fast class but filled with complicated turns so there were a lot of faults. When I finished, I really was not sure I would win the class because there were still a lot of a quick riders to come after me. I had to correct the stride for two distances and that slowed me down, but in the end it was enough to win.”
With only 9 clear rounds from a total of 69 starting riders, Marc finished ahead of fellow Dutch Olympic medalist Maikel van der Vleuten aboard VDL Groep Eureka and France’s winner from yesterday, Julien Epaillard riding Cristallo L AM. “Sterrehof´s Uppity is a real fighter. He won a class three weeks ago at the Hong Kong Masters. He’s a winner that always tries to give his best and I’m really happy to have him in my stables.”
“It’s an amazing competition in a unique environment. The public are fantastic. I’d almost say it’s the finest show-jumping competition in the world, at least indoor.”
Source: Saut Hermes