Simon Delestre & Chesall Zimequest Win $377,000 Massimo Dutti CSI5* at LGCT Shanghai
Simon Delestre and Chesall Zimequest. Ph. Stefano Grasso/LGCT
The final Massimo Dutti Trophy CSI5* feature class of the Longines Global Champions Tour Shanghai saw World No. 1 Simon Delestre of France showcase his talent with the 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding Chesall Zimequest (Casall x Concerto). Delestre took the lion’s share of the $377,000 prize money class after a masterful round.
Eleven riders went through to the jump-off, with the crowds once more on the edges of their seats as the class unfolded. Cheering at every fence, the passionate audience watched as the world’s best riders took to the arena for the final Longines Global Champions Tour class of the day.
The competition went right down to the wire after Belgium’s Olivier Philippaerts and H&M Legend of Love set a blinding pace in the jump off, crossing the line in 39.91 seconds. The two riders were evenly paced, with Philippaerts ahead for most of round, with Delestre winning the jump-off on the final turn and gallop to the last in 39.21 seconds.
Christian Ahlmann and the vocal grey stallion Cornado II came in 3rd, with the crowd cheering in delight as Cornado neighed upon entering the arena. They put in an impressive round, crossing the line in 39.94seconds.
Danielle Goldstein of Israel with Caspar 213, Edwina Tops-Alexander of Australia with Lintea Tequila and The Netherlands’ Gerco Schröder with Glock’s Zaranza made up the final few places, with Gregory Wathelet of Belgium finishing 7th after an unlucky pole with Oh d’Eole. So speedy were Gregory and his 14 year old black mare, they crossed the line in 38.65 seconds, and would have been sure winners of the class.