CSI4* Chantilly: historic Grand Prix for Brazil, won by Luciana Lossio
Luciana Lossio riding Lady Louise Jmen © Cecile Sablayrolles
The prestigious Grand Prix Ville de Chantilly, known to be one of the most coveted competitions in the world of show jumping, saw 50 pairs participate this year and only five riders reach the barrage.
The course, designed by Olympic chef de piste Gregory Bodo, proved particularly challenging, highlighting the extraordinary victory of Brazilian Luciana Lossio and her 14-year-old mare, Lady Louise Jmen, in front of the grandstands.
Luciana Lossio’s victory marks a significant moment in her young career, representing Brazil’s first success at Chantilly.
The event comprised thirteen obstacles in the first round, including a double and a triple, with a maximum height of 1.50 m. Due to the condition of the terrain, deteriorated by recent bad weather, some obstacles had to be moved, forcing the final twenty-five competitors to reconnoitre the course.
Despite the difficulties, British veteran John Whitaker played down criticism of the terrain, stating: “I don’t think the terrain was that bad, but riders today are used to perfect arenas.
In total, five pairs made it to the jump-off, including four women. The first without a mistake in the first heat, France’s Ines Joly, replied with another clear run on Platini De Kalvarie, setting the first time to beat.
American Alise Oken with Gervera immediately improved her time by a few hundredths. France’s Valentin Besnard was unable to finish error-free with Diamantina Beaufour and exited the scene, leaving the race in the hands of the Amazons. Juliette Faligot and her agile Arqana De Riverland took the lead, but victory was destined for Brazil. Luciana Lossio, without a real plan but just galloping to the maximum, distanced everyone by a margin of over two seconds: ‘It is my most beautiful victory and it takes on even more value in this extraordinary place, between these two palaces. It’s incredible, I’m so happy. It’s my first time here and it’s like a dream come true.
This victory, although surprising, is not entirely unexpected. Luciana Lossio, 49, is already well-known on the international circuit with major successes in several CSI5* events, including a victory in the Grand Prix of Wellington, Florida, last spring. Temporarily settled in Belgium, Luciana will now return to Brazil with a wealth of unforgettable memories and a dream realised.
The stands in Chantilly enthusiastically celebrated Brazil’s first victory on the Grandes Écuries course, marking a historic moment for show jumping and leaving an indelible mark in the hearts of fans.
© Rights Reserved.
