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<\/p>\nEdwin Smits (SUI) and Farezzo (Arezzo VDL x Van Gogh) took the top honours in Sunday\u2019s CSI2* 1.45m Grand Prix presented by CHG \u2013\u00a0Construcciones Hispano Germanas S.A \u2013 at the Autumn MET in Oliva Nova, Spain after producing the only double clear of the class.<\/p>\n
The Grand Prix concluded the first of the two last weeks of competition at the autumn edition of the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour 2020, which is run under strict Covid-19 protocols.<\/p>\n
Today, it was a tough course designed by Isabel Fernandez De Canete (ESP) that waited for the horses and riders. The biggest challenge was perhaps created by the time allowed, which was very tight. In the end only four horse-and-rider combinations out of the 85 in the class\u00a0managed to deliver clear rounds on the right side of the clock to move on to the jump-off. \u201cThe most difficult factor today was definitely the time allowed,\u201d Smits commented after his win. \u201cA lot of riders ended up chasing the time, and in the end you saw many of the horses losing their power a bit. The last line with the triple bar to the double of uprights was tricky too, and with the time allowed coming into play it was easy to make mistakes there.\u201d<\/p>\n
First back for the jump-off was Smits, who had a clear strategy as number one to go against the clock. \u201cMy horse Farezzo is by nature not the quickest, and I knew there were some really fast riders coming behind me so I thought it would be good to make a little bit pressure but not over-do it,\u201d Smits commented afterwards on his jump-off round in 44.41 seconds. \u201cI hoped to pressure those to come to take a bit of risk.\u201d<\/p>\n
The second tour of the Autumn MET now enters its last week of competition, running until November 15th.<\/p>\n
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Smits\u2019 plan worked out perfect. Next in the ring, Katharina Offel (GER) and Chaning Tatum (Canturano x Balou du Rouet) brought the time down to 42.05 seconds but did not have luck on their side as a pole on the very last oxer fell to the ground just as they crossed the finish line. Third to go, the extremely fast couple Richard Vogel (GER) and Floyo VDL (Baltic VDL x Contender) looked as if they were on their way to another victory but unfortunately also they had to see a pole fall to the ground \u2013 on the penultimate vertical \u2013 slotting into second place with a time of 39.74. As last to go Andres Vereecke (BEL) and d\u2019Artagan RR (Diamant de Semilly x Calando I) set off at a high pace, but had to see three poles fall along the way \u2013 leaving the victory to Smits, second place to Vogel and third to Offel.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really pleased with Farezzo today. This is his first Grand Prix win, but he already did some great things last year and I think he is a horse we\u2019ll see a lot more from in the future,\u201d Smits said. \u201cI bought him two years ago in Holland from Niels Knape. He looked a bit slow back then, but he is incredible scopey and tries to be so careful \u2013 and I could see his quality already then. I have worked a lot on his dressage to make him more elastic, so now he is also getting faster.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very happy to be here in Oliva Nova,\u201d Smits continued. \u201cDuring the first wave of the pandemic, I think a lot of horses and riders benefitted from the break \u2013 it turned out not to be a big problem. The horses could take a deep breath. However, after having had this break I think it\u2019s important that we can keep on jumping now \u2013 also in competitions so that the horses don\u2019t get too rusty. The experienced ones get quickly back on track, but we have other horses that need to keep on going. I believe it is important to show for the riders too, we all need to have targets.\u201d<\/p>\n
As to his own targets for the last week in Oliva Nova, Smits aims to jump Farezzo in the concluding Grand Prix while some of his younger mounts will get their chance to shine in the other world ranking classes. \u201cThen for Farezzo the year is over, and we will have to figure out what we do next!\u201d the happy winner closed off.<\/p>\n
For full results, click here.<\/a><\/p>\n