Tetouan Sun Shines Upon Ines Joly and Pegasus Bandit Savoie
They say “Saturdays are for the boys,” but Sunday was definitely for the ladies during this edition of the Morocco Royal Tour, and the star of Tetouan was none other than French favorite Ines Joly aboard the brilliant grey gelding, 10-year-old Pegasus Bandit Savoie.
A packed house, a gentle, late afternoon sun, and 36 of the world’s most elite combinations in international show jumping set the stage for the CSI4*-W GRAND PRIX DE S.A.R LE PRINCE HERITIER MOULAY EL HASSAN 1.50m. Prince Moulay Abdallah, MRT and Royal Moroccan Federation President, watched on as Joly put together a foot-perfect first round over the Louis Konickx (NED) track for this spectacular World Cup Qualifier.
Her second MRT tour, Joly was primed and ready to kick it up a gear and take her first CSI4* Grand Prix, and neither friend nor foe would stand in her way. Joly, the penultimate rider, clocked a rhythmical yet efficient 51.14 seconds. “It’s the first time I tried to really push him, and I haven’t been riding him for so long, so I didn’t know his behavior in the jump-off…but he is always giving his best, during the whole week of competition in Tetouan he didn’t touch a pole,” said Joly.
Switzerland’s Bryan Balsiger perhaps tried a little bit too hard to chase her time aboard his top horse, PSG Starlight, and collected a rail. Yet, we can expect he too is happy for Joly. “Bryan is a good friend, but we are good competitors, we push each other, and we fight for it in the ring. Actually, he was faster than me, but I was lucky because he had one down,” laughed Joly, who was both fast and careful during this afternoon.
“The most important thing with this horse is to keep confident. I don’t jump very big, I just try to keep him happy and without stress, because he is a really shy horse so I have to be careful not to do too much. A lot of times you think you have to jump big in the warm-up, but for this one 1.30-1.35m is good enough,” Joly explained, going on to discuss her own preparation. “I actually have a mental coach, and I am really well-surrounded. I have a great team and they always push me to go further and to fight every day.”
And fight she did!
The day’s earlier events at Morocco Royal Tour Tetouan
CSI1* Prix de la Garde Royale: Estelle Gérard discovers a new gear
From the moment riders stepped foot onto Le Garde Royal this morning for the Morocco Royal Tour (MRT) of Tetouan finale, the excitement in the air was palpable. Yet, it was Belgium’s Estelle Gerard who had an especially good feeling about today when she climbed into the saddle of 15-year-old gelding Jedam for the CSI1* GRAND PRIX DE LA GARDE ROYAL—a class that would shortly become a dream come true for the young 16-year-old.
You might not guess based on her soft-spoken and gentle disposition, but in the ring, Gerard is anything but reserved. Sure to leave no room for negotiation, the pair found perfect synergy and a courageous gallop, blazing through the timers in 38.52 seconds. It was more than a second and a half faster than runner-up Jean-Marie Soupasse aboard 10-year-old mare Excess For You (40.14 seconds).
The class marked the first international win of Gerard’s career, and thus, she will remember this beautiful day in Tetouan for the rest of her life. “Today I gave it everything, I was really into it…I don’t normally go this fast but I had the feeling my horse was ready for it. It was also my first 1.40m and I’m so happy to win here. The goal is to be in the next two Grand Prix in Rabat and El Jadida, and I will try to win those too!”
CSI4* Prix de la F.R.M.S.E: Rikke Belinda Barker loves all things Moroccan
The girl power flowed straight into the first class of the 4* division, the CSI4*-W 1.45m PRIX DE LA F.R.M.S.E. However, it was a new anthem that rang through the valley thanks to an especially daring Dane. Rikke Belinda Barker and 11-year-old gelding Pico Hcc were the last to jump-off but the first to go in the victory lap.
“It’s amazing to win here; I am so happy with my horse. He is very simple to ride, but he’s also very fast, and he always gives his everything. I’m based in Belgium at ST Stables. I was inspired to come to the MRT because I have been to Marrakech a few times. I love Morocco, I love the people, I love the food, I love the tea! It’s been a really good experience. The show is really well-organized and the horses are very happy here.”
The girl power flowed straight into the first class of the 4* division, the CSI4*-W 1.45m PRIX DE LA F.R.M.S.E. However, it was a new anthem that rang through the valley thanks to an especially daring Dane. Rikke Belinda Barker and 11-year-old gelding Pico Hcc were the last to jump-off but the first to go in the victory lap.
“It’s amazing to win here; I am so happy with my horse. He is very simple to ride, but he’s also very fast, and he always gives his everything. I’m based in Belgium at ST Stables. I was inspired to come to the MRT because I have been to Marrakech a few times. I love Morocco, I love the people, I love the food, I love the tea! It’s been a really good experience. The show is really well-organized and the horses are very happy here.”Indeed, we are all leaving Tetouan with smiles on our faces, but the thrill of Moroccan show jumping is only just beginning as we move on to Rabat for an undeniable annual highlight…the CSIO4*-W Nations’ Cup of Rabat!
RESULTS
PRIX DE LA GARDE ROYALE
CSI1* – 1.40 m Grand Prix – Jump Off – 238.2.2
30 participants and 12 placed
1) Estelle Gerard, BEL – Jedam 0-0/38.52, 2) Jean Marie Soupasse, FRA – Excess For You 0-0/40.17, 3) Amine Lyazidi, MAR – Fantasia de l’Aubere 0-0/41.25, 4) Ghali Chaoui, MAR – Esperenzo 0-0/41.69, 5) Alessandro Iasson
PRIX DE DAKHLA
CSI4*-W – 1.45 m (LR) -Winning Round – 276.2
35 participants and 12 placed
1) Rikke Belinda Barker, DEN – Pico Hcc 0-0/38.44, 2) Armando Trapote, ESP – Karl P 0-0/38.68, 3) Abdelkebir Ouaddar, MAR – Baccarat Meniljean 1-0/39.39, 4) Nico Lupino, ITA – Ikke 4-0/39.61, 5) Luiz Felipe Neto de Azevedo
PRIX DE S.A.R LE PRINCE HERITIER MOULAY EL HASSAN
CSI4*-W – 1.50 m World Cup Grand Prix (LR) – Two Rounds both atc – 273.4.3b
36 participants and 12 placed
1) Ines Joly, FRA – Pegasus Bandit Savoie 0-0/51.14, 2) Khaled Almobty, KSA – Spacecake 0-0/51.44, 3) Teresa Blazquez – Abascal, ESP – Nasa de Toxandria 0-0/52.31, 4) Charles Henri Ferme, FRA – Bellini Dufaure de L 0-0/52.86, 5) Filippo Bassan
Press release Morocco Royal Tour 2024
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