Laura Renwick & Rembrandt Blue Repeat Victory in Tropicana Derby at Dinard CSI5*
Laura Renwick & Rembrant Blue. Ph. Jumping Dinard
Laura Renwick won the Tropicana Derby at Jumping International Dinard CSI5* for the second consecutive year, again riding Rembrandt Blue to the win.
Early on in the afternoon, the public was crowding into the Val Porée stadium in lovely Dinard, France, in order to watch this high-level event. Fourteen on the starting list were ready to take on the challenge of a 1,060 meter-long course, with 29 jumps that included a water crossing, banks and the impressive hill slope followed by a double combination of verticals.
In front of fully packed grandstands, the British rider Renwick, who is famous for being one of the fastest in the world, completed the only clear round of the class in a time of 165.41 seconds. With a large smile on her face, the rider said she was delighted with her horse who enjoys, just like her, this type of derby class. The 11 year old gelding of unknown breeding is owned by Mr. David Rogers.
“I took him here only for this Derby, it was my target this weekend, I am very pleased with the result,” Renwick said. “It is a unique and very demanding exercise for the horses, equivalent to several regular classes.”
Second place went to the Italian rider Luca Maria Moneta, riding Neptune Brécourt, a 15 year-old Selle Francis (Cumano x Kayack. The pair did not knock a single rail, but they earned two time penalties for a total of 187.17 seconds.
“I am very happy, the Derby is a new exercise for Neptune, I have ridden him in all the big classes and championships,” Maria Moneta said. “This is only his fourth Derby, after La Baule, Hickstead and Falsterbö. He seemed to enjoy it. It is always easy to have a rail down in a Derby. Neptune is a very quick horse, but if he goes too fast, he may have a rail, which is why I preferred to go for a clear round even if I got time penalties. To me, this 2nd place is fantastic, it is my best result in this type of class.”
In 3rd place was Julien Epaillard of France, riding Sheriff de la Nutria LM. They had the fastest time of 162.24 seconds, but unfortunately had a rail down at the second last fence. “I am fully satisfied with Scheriff, he jumped well, he gave me everything,” Epaillard said. “He placed 6th here last year. When you try to play the time, sometimes you pay for it towards the end of the course. After fence 19, I felt he was slightly tired, and I had no information about Laura’s time, so maybe I should have paid a little more attention over the two last fences, but today we gained more experience in a type of class that I really enjoy riding.”
Hats off to the Swiss rider Pius Schwizer aboard Chellatus R who completed the course with only 4 penalties, but in a very fast time of 167.29 seconds, as well as to the Italian rider Daniele Augusto Da Rios, who crossed the finish line with only 4 faults in 170.20 seconds.