Ph. Christophe Bricot
French riders swept the podium on home turf at Jumping International de Bordeaux CSI5* on Friday evening, with Penelope Leprevost leading the way in the €62,000 Grand Prix Qualifier 1.50.
She won the single round class with Nice Stephanie, a 12-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare (Cardento x Ralme Z) owned by Madame Geneviève Megret. Leprevost, who won this same class two years ago, had to fight hard to secure the fastest time of 56.60 seconds ahead of countryman Kevin Staut. With Haras Des Coudrettes’ Elky van het Indihof HDC, Staut couldn’t catch Leprevost with his time of 58.12 seconds. Roger Yves Bost was 3rd with Pegase du Murier.
“All went just like I had in mind,” Leprevost said. “It was a long shot, I think Sergio (Moya) was faster. There were faults everywhere. Here in Bordeaux, the rounds are a bit different, it’s not that high, but the fences are lighter than in Zurich for example (last week), where the fences are bigger with heavier poles. Here, as soon as you hit a pole, it falls.”
However, with Leprevost now qualified for Sunday’s all-important Western European League World Cup Qualifier, she can now relax a bit during Saturday’s class. Jumping Bordeaux continues through Sunday, and the finale grand prix can be viewed on feitv.com.