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<\/p>\nLast Sunday, Spain\u2019s Mariano Martinez Bastida went off with the Grand Prix victory at \u00a02020-autumn edition of the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour in Oliva Nova, Spain \u2013 today it was his compatriot Sergio Alvarez Moya\u2019s turn to succeed. Aboard Valdocco des Caps (Number One d\u2019Iso x Quidam de Revel), Alvarez Moya left his competitors with no chance in this CSI2* 1.45m Grand Prix presented by the Stephex Group. \u201cIt\u2019s always nice to win, I don\u2019t care where!\u201d Alvarez Moya laughed about his home-soil win.<\/p>\n
In beautiful autumn weather, the stage was set for another exciting Grand Prix at the Autumn MET 2020. Operating under strict Covid-19 guidelines\u00a0and protocols, the tour is run without spectators but judged by the last weeks of competition the lack of audience has not at all dampened the spirit of the riders as every class in Oliva Nova has been extremely fast. Sunday\u2019s Grand Prix \u2013 that also counted for the world ranking \u2013 proved to be no exception. With 16 of the 82 horse-and-rider combinations in the Grand Prix qualifying for the jump-off after clearing Gregory Bodo’s (FRA) first-round track \u2013 including speed merchants Harold Boisset (FRA), Julien Epaillard (FRA) and Jerome Guery (BEL) \u2013 it was yet again bound to be a race against the clock.<\/p>\n
The first clear round in the jump-off came from Ioli Mytilineou (GRE) and La Perla vd Heffick (Cooper vd Heffinck x Contact vd Heffinck), that stayed in the lead for quite a while with their time of 40.37 seconds. Moving into the second half of the jump-off, Elisa Strubbe (BEL) and Mr. Quality Z (Mr. Blue x Casall) brough the time to beat down to 39.84 seconds \u2013 which was quickly bettered by Julien Epaillard (FRA) and Usual Suspect d\u2019Auge (Jarnac x Papillon Rouge) who blazed around to a time of 34.59 seconds. It looked like it would be hard to beat Epaillard, who \u2013 as usual \u2013 has notched up one win after the other in Oliva Nova. As next to go, Lieven Devos (BEL) and Inca\u2019s Big Think (Beaulieu\u2019s Think Big x Lanciano) delivered another clear \u2013 but the pair was not fast enough to pass Epaillard and slotted in behind the French rider in 38.09 seconds.<\/p>\n
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As second last to go, Alvarez Moya set off with determination. Having cleared the combination half-way, the Spanish rider moved his 11-year-old gelding into top gear \u2013 giving full gas down the penultimate line consisting of an upright and an oxer before turning back tight to the final vertical. Crossing the finish line, Alvarez Moya turned his head and looked at the big screen: The clock showed 34.31 seconds and he had taken over the lead from the seemingly unstoppable Epaillard. Leaving the ring, Alvarez Moya still had to watch last-to-go Jerome Guery give it a go \u2013 but it was not to be for the Belgian rider today. For a second week in a row, it was a Spanish win in the Grand Prix.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew I had to watch out a bit until the combination, after I could let him lose \u2013 he loves to go fast,\u201d Alvarez Moya commented on his tactic for the jump-off with Valdocco des Caps.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cTo the second last, he really just backed off himself. I think he delivered the best jump-off round today!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s difficult to win here. There are\u00a0some real speed specialists present and they go \u201cvolle hacke\u201d every round, and as I\u2019m not doing that very often I really have to give myself a kick behind if I want to beat them!\u201d Alvarez Moya laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI started riding Valdocco des Caps earlier this year, he came to me from Cian O\u2019Connor,\u201d Alvarez Moya explained. \u201cHe has a lot of personality, so you have to get to know him. He is not a horse you tell what to do, you have to ask him. He is a real competitor, and now that we start to form a partnership the results are coming. I\u2019m really happy with him today!\u201d Alvarez Moya said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a hard time for everyone right now, but somehow we have to keep our industry going and continue to develop our horses. As riders we should be really thankful to those event organisers that manage to keep the shows running. They make a big effort to keep our sport going \u2013 even in times where it\u2019s difficult to come up with prize money and sponsors,\u201d Alvarez Moya concluded.<\/p>\n
The second tour of the Autumn MET now enters its last week of competition, running until November 15th.<\/p>\n
For full results, click here.<\/a><\/p>\n