In an unbelievable difficult Grand Prix of the CSI5* Hermès Paris, Edwina Tops-Alexander managed to win the title with her ten-year-old L’Esprit-daughter California. Top’s  excellent achievement put Pénélope Leprévost and the KWPN-recognized stallion Vagabond de la Pomme in second place.

Only three combinations managed to stay clear in the very delicate first round, in which no less than 13 combinations decided to call it quits.  Only Edwina Tops-Alexander and the elite sport mare California (L’Esprit out of Olivia elite sport-spr pref by Libero H), that is bred by  Gerbrand van Beesten and Jan Dunnewind, and  Pénélope Leprévost with the KWPN-recognized stallion Vagabond de la Pomme (Vigo d’Arsouilles out of Sauterelle de la Pomme by For Pleasure, breeder Haras de la Pomme from Le Pin in France) could also stay clear in the second round of the Grand Prix ridden in the gorgeous Grand Palais. “I can hardly believe it! It was a really, really difficult course. But I knew exactly how to do it and how to ride. I was lucky to be the last rider in both the first round as the jump-off. My mare is in great form. She has done incredibly well, certainly if you consider she is quite unexperienced at this level”, Edwina Tops-Alexander said afterwards. “We have only competed in six Grands Prix together and to have such a result already, amazing!”

Finishing Touch Wareslage impresses again
Besides the KWPN recognized Vagabond de la Pomme also the recently recognized and powerful jumping  Finishing Touch Wareslage (Quival out of Qualita van de Groene Haag by Toulon, breeder K. Berckmoes Liever-Keymeulen from Waasmunste, Belgium) was convincing under his rider Juulia Jylas. In this most difficult Grand Prix they managed to finish with only four faults. Good for thirteenth place. This season he is available with frozen semen.

JS/YBF for KWPN / Photo Finishing Touch Wareslage – KWPN Stallion Database