Four classes, four first-timers: how Lyon and Rabat were won

Four big 1.60m classes were held across Lyon and Rabat this weekend. All four went to horses who had never won at the five-star Grand Prix/World Cup level.

Julien Epaillard won the World Cup at home on a 15-year-old who had jumped 34 rounds at this level without a win with two different riders. Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli won in Rabat with a horse who had no clears in four rounds together. In Lyon, Henrik von Eckermann took Friday’s Grand Prix with one clear from three rounds together, and Martin Fuchs won Saturday’s Equita Masters in his first outing at this level on Fave d’Authuit.

Combination statistics below cover CSI5* 1.60m and major championship results prior to last weekend’s competition.

Lyon: Epaillard wins the World Cup by three hundredths

Fourteen pairs made the jump-off and eight stayed clear. The first four were split by less than half a second, and Epaillard beat Richard Vogel by 0.03 seconds.

A first win at 15

Julien Epaillard & Le Coultre de Muze came to Lyon on 736, the highest Elo the stallion has reached. Two days earlier they had four faults in the first round of the Grand Prix and finished 17th.

The pair had one clear from five rounds together at this level, close to the course average of about one horse in five. With Philippe Rozier, the horse had four clears from 29 rounds. Neither rider had won or finished on the podium with him at this level until Sunday.

Vogel and Cloudio close again

Richard Vogel & Cloudio, who went clear in the jump-off to win the League of Nations Final for Germany last month, were second in 38.20. Edouard Schmitz and Gamin van’t Naastveldhof were third, two days after eight faults in the first round of the Grand Prix. Ben Maher and Point Break completed a top four separated by 0.46 seconds.

Rabat: Augustsson Zanotelli edges Lynch

Nine pairs made the jump-off and two stayed clear. Christian Ahlmann was fastest of all in 46.24, with four faults.

No clears in four, then two

Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli & Iron Dames Calvino II de Nyze Z came to Rabat on 654. They had jumped four rounds together at this level, on courses where about one horse in four goes clear, and had not yet gone clear.

Across three riders, the stallion had one clear from nine rounds at this level, with Thibeau Spits. In Rabat he went clear twice and beat Denis Lynch by 0.11 seconds. It was the horse’s first win at the five-star level.

Cordial runs it close

Denis Lynch & Cordial, the 17-year-old stallion, were the only other double clear and finished second in 48.02. Christian Ahlmann and Untouched LB were third.

Four recent Grand Prix winners were in the Rabat field. Fontaineblau Manciais, Charly Heart, EIC Up Too Jacco Blue and Wathnan Quaker Brimbelles Z all had faults in the first round and did not reach the jump-off.

Lyon Grand Prix: von Eckermann the only double clear

Twelve pairs made Friday’s jump-off and only one stayed clear. Martin Fuchs and Lorde were fastest in 43.99, with four faults.

A first podium for Saruschka

Henrik von Eckermann & Hylanderhof’s Saruschka came to Lyon on 634, with one clear from three rounds together at this level.

On Friday they were the only pair to go clear twice. It was the mare’s first win and first podium at the five-star level, and her best Elo is 658.

Moissonnier one time fault away

Megane Moissonnier & Glamour du Lys went clear over the fences in the jump-off and finished second on a single time fault. Martin Fuchs and Lorde were third, the start of a strong week for the Swiss rider.

Equita Masters: Fuchs and Fave d’Authuit

Saturday’s Masters was decided over two rounds with no jump-off. Nobody finished on zero. Fuchs had a single time fault in the second round, and that was enough by two penalties.

A new partnership pays off

Martin Fuchs & Fave d’Authuit came to Lyon with the grey on 635. It was their first time out together at the five-star 1.60m level.

They went clear in the first round and added a single time fault in the second. It was the 11-year-old’s first win at the level.

Leprevost and McAuley on three

Penelope Leprevost & Hileklaire Un Prince were second and Mark McAuley and Clooney van Spalbeek Z third, both on three penalties. McAuley’s nine-year-old had also been fourth in Friday’s Grand Prix. Julien Epaillard was fastest in the second round on Fini l’Amour, with four faults, the day before his World Cup win.

Four classes, four horses winning at the five-star level for the first time. Will the breakthroughs keep coming, or will the established names hit back next weekend?