Riding the French horse Easy Star de Talma, world no. 6 Steve Guerdat from Switzerland emerged victorious from the historic and prestigious La Baule – Demeures de Campagne Derby, ahead of the Frenchman Nicolas Layec. Meanwhile, Shane Sweetnam made the strains of Amhrán na bhFiann fill the air one more time in the Saur Prize.
“At last!”, exclaimed the Swiss rider Steve Guerdat right after clinching victory in the La Baule – Demeures de Campagne Derby, riding his Selle Français stallion Easy Star de Talma. Runner-up last year and a regular fixture among the top spots, the 2012 Olympic gold medallist, three-time World Cup winner, victor at some of the most prestigious venues on Earth and current world no. 5 has long professed his affection for the La Baule Derby, which is part of the heritage of equestrian sports. “Oddly enough, before the competition, I had the feeling that everything was lining up and that this was going to be my year”, he confesses. “Everything was going my way. I was the last to go, so I had all the information. I knew that a clear round would do the trick, so I decided to keep up a good rhythm through the first two thirds of the course and, if I was still clear, to play it a bit safer towards the end. My horse loves this competition and so do I. I’ve ridden the Derby better in the past than I did this year, but it felt as if it was meant to be. It’s for moments like this that we do sport with an atmosphere like the one at this show.” This will buoy his morale ahead of the Rolex Grand Prix Ville de La Baule on Sunday. “A Grand Prix is always different from a Derby”, he cautions. “But Dynamix de Belhème is in great form. We were close to the win last week in St. Gallen with a double clear in the Nations Cup, so I really think we’ve got a strong hand to play.”
Nicolas Layec, the fastest of the four-faulters and a stellar runner-up in a competition that saw the course designer Grégory Bodo make a number of judicious adjustments to the track, was all smiles, even if a bit star-struck by the great Swiss champion. “I didn’t expect to be in the lead with only Steve left to go”, said the 30-year-old French rider, ranked 217th in the world and celebrating the finest result of his career. “My horse is only 9 and had never tackled a competition like this. Whatever happened, I was already happy. Finishing second behind Steve, someone I’ve always admired so much, feels like a win to me. I’m keeping a photo of the podium!” Great Britain’s Jessica Mendoza, riding Disa DM 42, completed the podium.
Late in the afternoon, the Irish rider Shane Sweetnam, astride Gilona AO, followed up the Irish team’s victory in the Barrière Nations Cup on Friday with a win in the Saur Prize, the individual event with the second-biggest purse and, crucially, an opportunity to secure a ticket to the Rolex Grand Prix Ville de La Baule. He edged out the Belgian Abdel Saïd on Calvaro and the Swiss rider Nadja Peter Steiner on Nice van’t Zorgvliet at the end of an 18-horse jump-off round. “I’m thrilled to win such a big competition, especially with the added pressure of Grand Prix qualification”, acknowledged the world no. 21, who had won the Derby last year. “Hats off to the course designer for this sensational jump-off round.”
In the Grand Prix Prize (1.45 m, Accumulator), the British rider Millie Allen, 27, a multiple medallist at youth European Championships, trounced the opposition on Quick Diamant HR. The Italian Fabio Brotto (on Go Bolensky delle Roane), was nearly four seconds adrift, while the Colombian René López (on Casa Lady Love PS Old), followed close to five seconds behind.
In the CSI1* competitions, Camille Condé Ferreira, already the top performer in the Datanaute Prize on Friday evening, struck again on Saturday, claiming victory in the Laiterie de Montaigu Derby with Hydra Mouche. “This competition meant a lot to me because my partner sponsors it”, pointed out the 26-year-old, a former Junior European Champion. “To cap it all, the team finished second [François Tanguy] and third [Yoann Di Martino]! Second on Thursday, first on Friday and again today… It’s been an amazing show for me. The team worked hard and it paid off. Bring on the Range Rover Grand Prix tomorrow!”
In the La Baule Événements — Palais des Congrès Atlantia Prize, Mélanie Cisneros, who had already tasted glory yesterday with Gemme de Rouillac, this time had to share the top step of the podium with Caroline Egron, riding Enfield du Bary.
Rolex Grand Prix Ville de La Baule to bring down the curtain on the show
On Sunday, following two CSI1* competitions (including the Range Rover Grand Prix, the highlight of the weekend for riders at this level) the Rolex Grand Prix Ville de La Baule will bring the four days of competition to a spectacular close. Having qualified through their performances in the Barrière Nations Cup, the Saur Prize and the FFE–Generali Prize, the 50 best riders of the week will vie to succeed the current world number 1, the American Kent Farrington, who is determined to defend his crown after storming to victory on his grey mare Greya last year. However, with eight of the world’s top 10 present in La Baule, French contenders eager to follow in the footsteps of Nicolas Delmotte, the last French winner (in 2021), and a host of Olympic gold medallists and world champions, the competition promises a fiercely contested battle royale.
Sunday’s programme
8.15: Emma Pâtisserie Prize, CSI1*
11.05: Range Rover Grand Prix, CSI1*
14.00: Rolex Grand Prix Ville de La Baule, CSI5*
