The winning pair crossed the timers in 41.27 seconds. This victory marks a significant progression for the duo, who just last month finished in the top five of the 1.60m Grand Prix at the Saut Herm\u00e8s in Paris.<\/p>\n
“He Knows Exactly What To Do”<\/p>\n
Reflecting on his win, a delighted Thibeau Spits admitted he wasn’t entirely sure what to expect heading into the weekend:\u00a0“I didn\u2019t really know what to expect. After Paris, he had some time off for breeding duties, so he was a bit fresh and not very focused initially. I was already happy just to qualify for the Grand Prix. But today, he was much calmer. He is a horse that knows exactly what he has to do, and he jumped magnificently.”<\/p>\n
Regarding the tension of the jump-off, Spits added: “I wasn’t sure if my time would be fast enough with the competitors still to come. Fortunately, I managed the double clear. The World Championships remain a major goal for this year, and results like today certainly help. I think I have a good chance of being there and achieving a strong result.”<\/p>\n
The Leaderboard<\/p>\n
While Spits took the win on penalties, the fastest time of the day actually belonged to Martin Fuchs. Aboard Conner Jei (by Connor), the Swiss maestro clocked a blistering 39.95 seconds, but a single rail relegated him to second place.<\/p>\n
The podium was completed by French rider Marie Demonte. Entering the arena as the final challenger, she guided the Selle Fran\u00e7ais gelding Forban de Beliard (by Upsilon) to a solid third-place finish.<\/p>\n