| The World n°5, Marlon Modolo Zanotelli, brilliantly honoured Brazil in the Hubside Jumping Grimaud – Golfe de St Tropez arena by winning two consecutive classes with each of his two greys. Firstly, with Chili in the CSI2*, he took the 1.45m Grand Prix and then continued his winning streak by claiming the major class of the day, the CSI5* 1.50m Grand Prix, riding his son of Chacco Blue, the stallion Cartaro 2. Great Britain’s Guy Williams, also in great form, won the CSI5* 1.45m class with Rouge de Ravel. |
Marlon Modolo Zanotelli won the top class on this Saturday 25th of September, the CSI 5* 1.50m Grand Prix. Brazil’s Marlon Modolo Zanotelli, individual and team champion at the last Pan-American Games (2019 in Lima) gave the other competitors no chance with Cartaro 2. Of the 29 starters, 11 found the key to successfully clearing the 13 obstacles and 16 jumping efforts offered by course designer Cédric Longis, thus qualifying for the jump-off. The before last to start this second stage, the pair, who set off at a good tempo, settled matters by crossing the finishing line 36.77s and pushing France’s Simon Delestre out of the top slot. “The show here is incredible,” said the winner. “The organising team and Sadri Fegaier have been doing a superb job for several years, especially during the pandemic when they were a great help to us because we were able to compete at Grimaud. Cartaro is a fantastic horse, I’m very lucky to have him. This is our 4th or 5th show together and each time he’s been placed. He was 2nd in our last Grand Prix at Opglabeek, 2nd in Valkenswaard and he won a class in Knokke, he’s really consistent. I’m even happier because it’s our first 5*. The first round was tricky, but the jump-off was even more so, with a double of uprights, which always causes faults, however, he’s so respectful and fast that’s it wasn’t a problem for us. I didn’t look too much at what the other competitors did before me but Jean Maurice Bonneau (Brazil’s chef d’équipe) told me, before entering the ring, that in the last line it was possible to do 8 strides instead of 9. That’s what I did, and we won! Tomorrow for the Grand Prix I’ll be riding Diarca, a mare who’s just 10 years old, for whom it’ll be a first at this level and who, like Cartaro, belongs to Marie-Cindy Van Der Straeten.” Great Britain’s Guy Williams with Cicero II, last to go in the jump-off, gave everything in order to try and catch Zanotelli. He finished 2nd in 37.77s. Third place was taken by the France’s Simon Delestre with I Amelusina R 51 (38.81s).
