A Swiss Victory in El Jadida

schedule

07/10/2024

Adrian Schmid flying with Chicharito 11 in El Jadida © MRT-Thomas Reiner

Adrian Schmid riding Chicharito 11 ©MRT -Thomas Reiner

Grand Prix day in El Jadida on Sunday closed a magnificent 2024 edition of the Morocco Royal Tour, which began with Mouhcine Yakhou’s Moroccan victory in the Grand Prix 1* rewarding six years of partnership with his formidable 13-year-old Belgian horse, Gido. The day ended with Switzerland’s Adrian Schmid championing the Grand Prix de Sa Majesté le Roi Mohammed VI with the only clear round of the second track, as Charif Moulay Abdallah Alaoui, President of the Fédération Royale Marocaine des Sports Équestres, watched on.

True to his reputation, Italian course designer Uliano Vezzani presented a finely tuned layout, which was a question of vigilance over each of the 12 obstacles and 15 jumping efforts, almost all of which resulted in faults. The combinations were perhaps particularly tricky: a massive triple in the MRT colors and a more delicate double of verticals at the end. Ultimately, the course was so well-balanced that the number of clear rounds exactly matched the expected number of eight qualifiers for the second round. Four pairs of riders, in fact: two Irish, two Swiss, two Saudis, and the De Azevedo family with mother Cécile (Schoonbroodt) for Belgium and son Luiz Felipe Neto for Brazil (who finished in the top 5).

Eight obstacles, including a double (the MRT triple, save its entry oxer), were on the docket for the second round, in which Switzerland’s Adrian Schmid, riding Chicharito, calmly secured the first clear round and set a time that should have been the reference time, 45.54 seconds. He stopped the clock considerably later than the first four to jump off, all of whom left the track with 4 faults in 42 seconds or less. In the end, this cautious approach paid off, as none of the other three competitors were able to leave the track without a fault, and the German-based Swiss rider took the Grand Prix de Sa Majesté le Roi Mohammed VI by storm with the only clear round.

“Last week, Chicharito was in good form,” explained Schmid. “He was double clear in the Nations Cup, but to be honest, I didn’t expect to win the Grand Prix here. I felt that my horse was doing well, and when I saw that the frontrunners had made mistakes, I said to myself that I’d better look for a clear round, and maybe it’d be enough. I’ve been riding him for two years. Now, I’m aiming for the World Cup, especially Stuttgart and Basel, but I want to preserve him; I don’t want to make too many show appearances. That way, I can make the most of his qualities for as long as possible. The secret to success is to take care of your horses, treat them well, and ride them well.”

Top five Grand Prix de Sa Majeste le Roi Mohammed VI with Charif Moulay Abdallah Alaoui El Jadida ©MRT Thomas Reiner — Top five Grand Prix de Sa Majesté le Roi Mohammed VI with Charif Moulay Abdallah Alaoui El Jadida ©MRT -Thomas Reiner

Grand Prix CSI1* Prix ONMT – 1.40m, Table A with Jump-Off

It was the first Grand Prix victory for Mouhcine Yakhou and his formidable 13-year-old Belgian horse, Gido.

“He’s a horse that I get on particularly well with and who I’ve been riding since 2019. I am grateful, in particular, for the support of the Federation’s President, Charif Moulay Abdallah Alaoui. We’ve won a number of events together, but not yet a Grand Prix. There were six of us in the jump-off, including five Moroccan riders. I started last, and Gido’s big stride served me well.”

This especially rang true on the last obstacle, a vertical where Mouhcine Yakhou didn’t hold his horse back, finding a good stride going forward and leaning on their trust in each other. It was here where he undoubtedly gained the small 38 hundredths of a second lead that separated him from his compatriot Majid Djaidi (Amidam Tivoli Z). The podium was 100% Moroccan, with Vincent Zacharias Bourguignon taking third place aboard Chica de Bourguignon Z, a mare who, as her name suggests, was born at her rider’s home. In any case, this victory is a confidence booster for Mouhcine Yakhou, who is planning to take part in the CSI 2*, which will take place in two weeks alongside the Longines Global Champions Tour final.

“Everything will depend on the form of my horses, Gido and Stakko’s Lady. That’s my intention anyway, Inshallah,” said Yakhou.

After a fine day of great sport, the doors of the Mohammed VI Exhibition Park closed, and with them, the 13th edition of the Morocco Royal Tour, which will leave behind great memories for the participants, who promise to come back next year with every interview, and for the ever-growing number of spectators, even if, as usual, the El Jadida venue was packed to the rafters this afternoon to salute this Swiss victory.

Results

Prix ONMT

Mouhcine Yakhou (MAR) – Gido 0/0, 33.68 sec
Majid Djaidi (MAR) – Amidam Tivoli Z 0/0, 34.06 sec
Vincent Zacharias Bourguignon (MAR) – Chica de Bourguignon Z 0/0, 34.34 sec
Oceane Cordier (BEL) – Nananka-A 0/0, 36.97 sec
Youssef Essamlali (MAR) – Jaboulet 0/4, 36.54 sec