Paris Sellon from the USA, wins the FEI Longines Ranking class with ‘Anna Jo’.

The Spanish rider Mariano Martínez Bastida, took second place with ‘Mogambo’

Paris Sellon has once again demonstrated what an amazing partnership she has with her lovely chestnut mare Anna Jo.  After coming second in the 1.45m class here at Montenmedio on the 21st of Jan, she then repeated that placing in the Longines GP Ranking class on the 23rd, only to top it off today, by winning this FEI Longines Ranking class, with just over 0.4 of a second in hand.

This talented mare Anna Jo, is by Acodetto 2, and her dam-sire is the famous stallion, For Pleasure.  She is owned by Willow Grace Farms.  Paris is based in Switzerland with Martin Fuchs, where they started a business together a few years back called Twin Flame Horses, sourcing top quality horses in Europe and producing them for the American market.  Paris lists Susie Schroer (when she was a junior) and Lauren Hough amongst the most influential trainers in her life.  Her outlook on this sport is to stay patient and to seize the moment and make it the best you can.  Although she has told us in the past that one of her favourite horse colours is grey, we think she might be rather fond of this chestnut mare!

Paris stopped the clock in 65.08 seconds and the Spanish rider Mariano Martínez Bastida, took second place with ‘Mogambo’.  This pair have also been jumping well here with great results, indeed they won the 1.45m class on the 20th ofJanuary.  Today they finished this speed class with a clear in 65.49 seconds, comfortably ahead of the Egyptian rider, Karim El Zoghby who was third with ‘Gallos’.  In fourth was the Spanish rider, Thierry Brossard with ‘Arthur du Moulin’ and in fifth was Swedish rider, Douglas Lindelöw with ‘Casemiro CC’.

Karin El Zoghby had a really good day today as he was also the winner of the 1.40m class with F-Narcist .  He flew around the track in 59.65s, the only rider to stop the clock under the 60s mark.  He was over 3 seconds faster than the pair in second place, Antonio Mariñas from Spain, who was riding Conan de Taute.  Dan Kremer from Israel, also had a brilliant day as he was both third and fourth with in this class, with ‘Formidable GLN Z’ and ‘Mahone Van Orshof’, respectively.  Italy took the next placing with Ricardo Pisani and ‘Seronera’.

Antonio Mariñas, adds this placing to an already successful Andalucía Sunshine Tour. Just yesterday he was second in the 1.35m class with ‘Mylord MW’ and last week he was regularly on the podium and won the 1.45m on the 22nd with  the lovely ‘Hertog’.

Another name that keeps cropping up at the top of the results lists is the British rider William Walker.  Today he had two top spots on the podium, winning both the 1.35m with ‘Ustino’ and the 1.20m with ‘Corino du Rouet’.  Ustinov is a 10yr old gelding, owned by Douglas Duffin and Richard Jenkinson, two well known names here at the Tour, and indeed, Richard took second place to William on ‘Corino du Rouet’ in the 1.20m class.

Behind William, Helmut Schönstetter from Germany was second today in the 1.35m class, riding the stallion, ’Chardonnay 79’.  The Columbian rider Fabio Rodríguez took third place with ‘Chelana de Lazerou Z’; French rider, Yann Chartier Capitaine was fourth with the lovely ‘Carpe Diem PS Z’ and the Russian rider Ansatasiya Kirnarskaya was fifth, with ‘Loewenherz GM’.

With William winning the 1.20m and Richard Jenkinson in second with ‘Seaburg’ it was a British top two. Spanish riders took the two next placings, Juan Miguel Febrer Riu with ‘Chacco’s Magic’ was third and Manuel Román Álvarez with ‘Windflow’ was fourth.

The 1.30m, 2 phase class was very competitive and local rider Armando Trapote Mariscal rode a very fast clear to win on the gelding ‘Insigne S’.  In second was the Columbian rider, Nicolás Toro with ‘Conladaire’; third was British rider Harrison Hatteea with ‘Marvin van de Waterhoeve’; fourth was Jacqueline Lai from Hong Kong who was riding ‘Carolex V’ and once again Dan Kremer was in the rosettes, this time with ‘Jarrera’ taking fifth place.

Swiss rider Larissa Berri was the winner of the 1.10m class today, riding ‘Cassina’. The American rider, Andrea Van Scheltinga rode a lovely clear to take second place with ‘Kathmandu’ and the Canadian rider, Chris Sorensen was third, with a steady round on ‘Don Deja Vu’.  Fourth and fifth were Spanish riders Carolina Verdugo with ‘Epsilon D’Oreal’ and Juan Miguel Febrer Riu with ‘Grace Blue’.

In the Young Horse classes Mariano Martínez Bastida was once again the winner in the seven year old class with ‘Falbala Pironniere’ who is owned by Barmar Sportshorses and is by the amazing stallion Upsilon.  Turkish rider, Derin Demirsoy was second with his own ‘Faline des Chaines’ who is by Contendro.  Helmut Schönstetter was again in the rosettes, and this time he took all of the next three placings with ‘Campino MR’, ‘EIC Lloyd’ and ‘Count on me 19’ clearly demonstrating what a great string of horses he has here at the Tour.

In the six year olds there was British win for Serena Kullich riding her own ‘Benfields Victory’, who is by the fabulous Billy Stud stallion, Billy Congo.  Martínez Bastida took second place with ‘Kapalony Z’ and also fifth with ‘Sherlock’. In third place, and with a lovely round in this six year old class, was successful local rider Alejandro Fernández with ‘Cardiamour PS’.  Olivier Bujard (Sui) was fourth with ‘Quintano Van’t Smiske’.

In the five year old class the Belgian rider Cassandre Malherbe was the winner on the beautiful black stallion, ’Fly Veganair Z’ who is by Fetching des Mines, dam-sire Kannan.  Spanish rider Marta Garat Macías was second with ‘Nasa del Amor’ and in third was Serena Kullich this time riding ‘Malibú’. 

Tomorrow and Sunday competition continues here at Montenmedio.  There are seven classes tomorrow, with three Young Horse classes and four CSI2* classes (1.45, 1.40, 1.20 and the 1.10m). Sunday is the last day of this second week and finishes off the Pre-Sunshine Tour, there will be five classes including the highlight of the week, the Grand Prix which is an FEI Longines Ranking class.