Monday November 11, 2024
Melina Massias
If the World Cup stage in Verona was the major event of the weekend on the Old Continent, a large-scale and very well attended CSI 4*, as well as two other CSI 5*, organized in Mexico and in Canada, were held. Harrie Smolders, Andres Azcarraga and Alex Matz shone in Maastricht, Monterrey and Toronto, thanks to their respective Mister Tac des Fusains, Contendros 2 and Ikigai.
If riders were spoiled for choice in terms of competition this weekend, several of the best in the world honored the CSI 4* in Maastricht with their presence. The quality of the couples present in the Netherlands last weekend only increases the value of the victory of Harrie Smolders and Mister Tac des Fusains in the main event of the competition, Sunday November 10. If the bay had already won honors at the higher level with his former and most faithful rider, Victor Bettendorf, he had until then only won one speed at 1.45m with his Dutch rider, who took the reins at the start of the year.
“Maastricht Indoor Jumping is one of the most beautiful competitions in the Netherlands and has one of the best atmospheres. It is a 4* CSI which has all the qualities of a 5*, from every point of view. Indoor events seem to suit Mr. Tac well. At the jump-off, you can really use all your abilities. His amplitude to tackle the last obstacle was incredible! He’s a real speed whiz!”, commented Harrie Smolders, who won this event for the first time in his career.
To do this, the Dutchman cut the finishing cells in 38”27, allowing him to take the advantage over Laura Kraut and the very good Bisquetta, who had already won at this level during the summer of 2023, during the CSI 4* Chantilly Classic, as well as Pieter Devos and Primo DV, another promising product from his in-house breeding. The powerful gray, son of Vigo d’Arsouilles, competed in his third international course at 1.55m or more and earned his second ranking!
By signing the last double clear round in the jump-off, Kim Emmen and Imagine, revelation of the last Olympic Games, pleased their audience.
Full results.
End of tour in apotheosis in Mexico
What better scenario could the organizers and public of the CSI 5* in Monterrey dream of, the last major meeting of a rather well-attended Mexican autumn tour? Andres Azcarraga, greatly disappointed with the Paris Olympic Games – failed at the veterinary examination before the collective event then fell into the river in the individual final – took his revenge with his faithful Contendros 2, Sunday November 10. The seventeen-year-old stallion, son of the late Contendro I and nephew of Codex One, former star of Christian Ahlmann, offered his rider the best victory of his career, by far. Until now, the Mexican’s best result was a first place acquired in a 3* Grand Prix in Lerma, in February 2022, against… fifteen other competitors, more or less competitive. Beyond the simple presence of the world number one, and despite the withdrawals of five couples before the start of the Grand Prix, Andres Azcaraga battled against eleven of his peers in the second round. And in the game of speed, the local and his sublime Hannoverian managed to defeat the very fit and very efficient Emanuele Camilli and Odense Odeveld. Good second, the Italian duo lost by sixty-eight hundredths.
Slightly slower, Harry Charles, another favorite for victory, stopped in third place with his agile fourteen-year-old Casquo Blue. Also double clear, the young Dourkhan Hero, already fourth last week in Monterrey, and RR Combella, ten years old and eighth seven days earlier, confirm all their qualities under the saddles of Christian Ahlmann and Shane Sweetnam. Penalized by time during the initial act, Eugenio Garza Perez, Jens Baackmann and Federico Fernandez were only able to take places of honor with Contago, Lorenz 86 and Romeo, born Barachiel d’Ouilly, six, seven and eighths.
Andres Azcarraga and Contendros 2, here at the Paris Olympic Games, won their first 5* Grand Prix in Monterrey. © Scoopdyga
Full results.
Full box for Alex Matz in Toronto
Called at the last minute to participate in the CSI 5*-W in Toronto, Canada, Alex Matz was full of it! In addition to his two victories acquired with Cashew CR in two intermediate events, the American won the best event of the weekend, the Longines World Cup stage, Saturday November 9, at the reins of Ikigai.
Alex Matz and his excellent Ikigai in Toronto. © Mackenzie Clark / FEI
“I don’t think I realize it yet,” he declared, directly, after his success, the best of his career. “I am very proud of my horse, of my team and I am very honored to be in this position with two incredible riders behind me.” Son of Elvis Ter Putte and Okori-Retti B (Iroko), at the origin of two other horses having evolved to 1.60m, Ikigai, eleven years old, left the European continent in September 2021, to join Alex Matz. Launched on the international scene by Marwin van den Nieuwenhuijzen then Pieter Clemens, the KWPN had, until last weekend, only competed in six 5* Grands Prix. By signing the only double zero of the event, the duo, selected for the final of the Longines Nations League circuit in October, in Barcelona, paraded at the head of the lap of honor.
What a dream weekend for Alex Matz in Toronto! © Mackenzie Clark / FEI
Local to the stage, Tiffany Foster had nevertheless recorded the best time in the jump-off, almost two seconds ahead of the winners. But the Canadian and her Electrique van het Cauterhof, a daughter of Emerald van’t Ruytershof already winner of a 5* Grand Prix in Ottawa last August, conceded a mistake, synonymous with second place. Also faster than Alex Matz and Ikigai, McLain Ward and Ilex experienced the same fate as their Canadian counterparts, seeing themselves relegated to third place with the exceptional Ilex, his partner from the last Olympic Games.
Lillie Keenan, on the Selle Français Argan de Béliard, and Mario Deslauriers, associated with Costa Quick PS, completed the list of jump-offs and the Top 5 after committing one fault each.
Full results.
Featured photo: Harrie Smolders and Mister Tac des Fusains celebrated their greatest joint victory this weekend, in the Netherlands. © Digi Shots / Indoor Jumping Maastricht
