In a thrilling finale marked by suspense and skill, Jeanne Sadran and her horse, Dexter de Kerglenn, secured victory for France at the CSIO 4*-W Nations Cup held in Rabat. The French team, which included notable riders such as Olivier Perreau, Alix Ragot, and Cyril Bouvard, outperformed their closest rivals, Morocco, who came tantalizingly close to achieving a sensational home victory. Germany rounded out the top three, while Belgium finished just outside the podium positions.
The tension built steadily throughout the competition, especially after the initial four rounds, culminating in a rare jump-off scenario to determine the winner. With a combined score of four points, France, Morocco, Germany, and Belgium found themselves vying for supremacy in the decisive jump-off. Morocco showcased a formidable lineup, led by their star rider Abdelkebir Ouaddar, who partnered with the energetic Festival d’Argouges. Under the guidance of selector Philippe Rozier, the four Moroccan riders conceded only four points in total across both rounds, allowing them to advance to the jump-off. Notably, Ali Al Ahrach and Abdeslam Bennani Smires delivered flawless rounds aboard their horses, Douglas Mail and Mister d’Eclipse, respectively. Meanwhile, El Ghali Boukaa and Ike 1348 had two rounds with four faults each, and despite some challenges, Ouaddar executed a rapid jump-off round without faults, clocking in at an impressive 33.78 seconds.
The French team began their efforts with Olivier Perreau and Leopard des Joanins, who initially delivered a perfect round but faced more difficulties in the second round, accruing a total of twenty-one points. Alix Ragot, riding Gueule d’Amours, also had a faultless first round but dropped a rail in the second. Conversely, Cyril Bouvard experienced the reverse, incurring four faults in the first round with Diva du Rozel, but bouncing back with a perfect round in the second. Following two flawless performances, Jeanne Sadran and her exceptional horse, Dexter de Kerglenn, were chosen to represent France in the jump-off. This decision proved advantageous as the duo clocked a time that was nearly half a second faster than their competitors, maintaining the lead throughout the event.
On the German side, Tom Schewe faced the pressure of extending a remarkable year for his team aboard Congress Blue PS. They managed to clear all jumps but lost precious seconds approaching the final oxer due to a wider turn. Schewe’s teammates—Marie Ligges, Harm Lahde, and Maximilian Lill—each rode their respective horses, Ballerina NRW, Oak Grove’s Commander Bond, and Kommandant 10, but the team was not yet assured of a podium finish.
The pressure shifted to Mike van Olst and Como Elle Faut Odth as they sought to secure a victory for Belgium. Prior to the jump-off, the Belgian team had to fight hard to qualify, with Jérôme Guery and Kiliman Sitte needing a flawless second round to maintain their score. Once they reached the jump-off, van Olst skillfully navigated the curves and set a rapid pace, but an overly ambitious approach to the final obstacle ultimately cost Belgium a spot on the podium.
As reported by grandprix.info.
