Release date: 22/07/2011 |    

Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and Palouchin de Ligny are making a habit of winning the opening 5* classes of the GCT program.  The pair were victorious in the 1.45m one round competition in Estoril and again at this opening 5* GCT one round against the clock event in Chantilly.

Palouchin de Ligny, (above) a 12 year old gelding, owned by Rodrigo’s major sponsors Doube H Farm, sits very comfortably with this type of competition, this height and the use of speed.

“He is always a quick horse by nature and a good team horse.  I did not have to push him today until he was empty." Rodrigo commented. “There were a lot of good combinations in this class perhaps having a training round in preparation for days to come.  The horse still has plenty in him for the rest of the weekend.”

Above): Presentation made by Claude van Lier (representative of Ville de Chantilly) and Gerard Manzineli (President of Jumping Chantilly)

Another combination suitably set for this type of competition, Denis Lynch (IRL) and Nite Train, were directly out on the course following Rodrigo.  They could not better Pessoa’s time of 33.39 coming home in 33.73 seconds to eventually be in second place.

Italian Roberto Turchetto set a good time of 35.50 early out in the class with the Heartbreaker gelding Ultimo FS.  At the conclusion of the class they sat in 4^th place.

French rider Jerome Hurel (right) took third place with the French bred mare Opheline de Gorgon (35.50).

“I am very pleased with the round as I am with this very nice show.  I live not far away from here and have supported the shows in Chantilly for 4 years and it is always a good show for me.  How could you not like this wonderful setting and ambiance?”

Irish rider Cian O’Connor, having his first start at a Global champions Tour event this season, was successful for 5^th place with De Bryun and Vorsselman’s Dacaletto D’Hoetsel (33.63).

Also in the prize giving line-up  in 6^th place was USA rider Lauren Hough competing for the first time on an exciting new 9 year old horse Blue Angel.(pictured above)  “I have only had this horse for two weeks and I am a little excited about this horse,” said Lauren. “She is a quality mare and I think my next Grand Prix superstar. I bought her from the UK through Duncan Inglis and Henk Noreen. And this was our first start together.”

As the class finished the skies opened but the wet weather certainly has not affected the fashion statements or spectator enjoyment.

Rain leading up to the start of Jumping Chantilly had many wondering how the grassed arena surface would stand up.  One day of dry conditions provided just enough time for water drainage. The sand base surface was in pristine condition for the first GCT event.

French rider Penelope Leprevost, who placed 7^th in the class with Oscar Des Fontaines (pictured below) commented on the arena. “The arena is very beautiful and you have to be enjoying this moment at a lovely show.  It was just the first competition and the surface was a little slippery. Considering the lead up rain it has drained very well.  I think now, with a few more horses on the surface, there will be better traction by the Grand Prix tomorrow.”

In fact Penelope, who placed 2^nd in the Grand Prix of Chantilly in 2010 with Mylord Cathargo, has high hopes to be on the podium again on Saturday. “He has had some weeks off resting after a fairly hefty campaign including St. Gallen, La Baule and Rome. I carefully considered going to the GCT Estoril event but he was tired and the trip was long to get there.”

She added, “He is fresh and ready to go here in Chantilly and certainly ready also for the European Championships.”

Photo credit Stefano Grasso/GCT