After a superb performance, the Brazilian Luciana Diniz, riding the Selle Français Vertigo du Désert, won the Prix Mars & Co, the major class of the day at Jumping International de Dinard. This Saturday, the Derby de Bretagne, one of the highlights of the competition, promises to be a great spectacle. 
Luciana Diniz & Vertigo du Désert ©Sportfot

For many years, her beautiful smile has captivated all equestrian enthusiasts and horse lovers. With her arms outstretched to the heavens, the very emotional Brazilian Luciana Diniz waved and thanked the public for a long time as she received the Prix Mars & Co trophy (1.55m with jump-off), presented by Danièle Mars, president of the competition, surrounded by two of her children, Axel and Samantha. The grey Vertigo du Désert, a 15-year-old Selle Français (by Mylord Carthago), also received plenty of hugs and kisses. 

Scheduled for the late afternoon, this event was the highlight of the second day of Jumping International de Dinard, which, as on the previous day, was lit up by bright sunshine. At the end of a 16-couple jump-off, Luciana Diniz crushed the competition. Having returned to the colours of the country of her birth several months ago after sixteen years with Portugal, she confirmed on the Val Porée turf on Friday that she is once again one of the best in the world. Having been out of action for several months after a series of health problems, she put in a top-class performance. "I'm so happy, she says. It's hard to say how happy I am with this victory. After the Chantilly competition, my whole team convinced me to come here to Dinard. I hesitated because I still had hopes of going to the Olympics. But it was the right decision. I'm very moved and I'd like to thank my horse first and foremost, but also the whole team around me, who believe in me and support me."

She was ahead of Swiss Martin Fuchs (world no. 8) with Conner Jei (43‘’83) and American Alessandra Volpi on Candy Luck Z (44‘’58). The top 5 was completed by French Mégane Moissonnier, with Bracadabra (44‘’84) and British Scott Brash, Olympic team champion in 2012, with Hello Valentino (45‘’27). With Glamour Girl, Swedish world number 1 Henrik von Eckermann was on course for victory for a long time, but a fault on the Rolex vertical dashed all his hopes (12th place).

Also on the CSI 5* programme, in the Prix Cordon Group (timed at 1.45m), French Edward Levy was the fastest with his Selle Français Vitot du Château. "Vitot is feeling very well at Dinard, said the winner. He already won this event last year. Winning a class here at Dinard always has a special flavour because the atmosphere is unique and the terrain magnificent." By just eight hundredths, he beat Irish Conor Swail on Theo 160, and François Xavier-Boudant, with Ermes du Noé. 

Guerdat, Kenny, Von Eckermann, an incredible podium in the CSI 3* Defender Prize

 

With a very high-level riders list, even exceptional for a CSI 3*, the Prix Defender (1.50m on time) was won by the 2012 Olympic champion, Swiss rider Steve Guerdat, currently world no.4, riding Easy Star de Talma, ahead of Irish Darragh Kenny (world no. 25) on Chic Chic, and Henrik von Eckermann on Calizi. 

 

Also in the CSI 3*, the Prix des Employés Municipaux de Dinard (1.40m, two phases) was dominated by Arthur Le Vot with Divine de B'Neville. The Breton rider, long based at his family's stables in Ille-et-Vilaine, beat Alexis Goulet (Calla) and Valentin Besnard (Gallimard Bois Margot). 
 
The CSI 1* had opened the main arena with the Prix Institut Esthederm (1.15m time trial), won by Thibault Blanchard and Feeling du Tremplin by almost four seconds. 
Steve Guerdat and Easy Star de Talma ©Sportfot

The Prix Emeria Dinard Thalasso & Spa (1.25m on time) went to French Sarah Hobl (Chalimar Vebe) and the Prix Vertikal Agencement (1.35m on time) to Mexican Maria Michel (Galvano van de Vlasput). 
In the sand arena, to open the day, Margaux Rocuet won with her mare Hatomik Divy (Fakir de Kreisker) in the Prix Groupe Fabrice Georgelin - Top 7 (1.35m) for 7-year-olds. 

 

Saturday: The Derby de Bretagne awaited by all 

 

This Saturday, after opening the day at 8.45am with the Prix Institut Esthederm followed by the Prix Hôtel Royal Emeraude as part of the CSI 1* at 11.15am, the stands at Val Porée are sure to be packed in the afternoon for an event that is eagerly awaited by all enthusiasts and riders alike. The Derby de Bretagne, scheduled for 4.45pm, has always been one of the highlights of the competition. Won last year by Émeric George, ahead of Nicolas Delmotte and Steve Guerdat (Olympic champion in 2012), this particularly spectacular event combines classic obstacles with natural obstacle clearance similar to that used in eventing. The best riders will need more than 2 minutes 30 seconds to complete the course, which consists of more than 20 obstacles: fording, mounding, jumping under the pergola, up-hill and down-hill obstacles.
 
Just before, the CSI 5* riders will be competing in the Prix Paris 2024 at 2pm, a 1.50m time trial. In the sand arena, the Prix CRE Bretagne (CSI 3*, 1.45m with jump-off) will precede at 8am the Grand Prix Lamotte Élevage d'Helby (CSIYH 1*, 1.40m with jump-off) scheduled for 11.30am.