WC 7-year-olds: Thibault Philippaerts & Crystal Claire win first qualifier
The FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship for Young Horses started today with 190 seven-year-olds and at the end Thibault Philippaerts (BEL) triumphed with Crystal Claire (Cristallo x Oklund). They were the only ones to stay under 29 seconds in the second phase.
Thibault is one of four sons of Ludo Philippaerts and only rides Crystal Claire at Zangersheide this week: "Which does not mean I have lots of free time. We live barely a 20-minute drive from Zangersheide and at home there are many horses waiting for me every day. I only come over to ride Crystal Claire and then I go home to train the horses.”
Almost always clear
My father bought Chrystal last winter when she was 6 years old and assigned her to me. I took her to Oliva and Arezzo where she finished in the top of the rankings every time. At the Belgian Championships for Young Horses, we got our first and only fault in the last round, on the penultimate fence. She almost always jumps clear and she did so today as well. This is nice and a great way to start, although that doesn't say anything about what happens next."
WC yes, BC seniors no
Thibault, who won gold at this year's European Championships with the team and individual silver with Derby de Riverland (Kannan), is not starting in the Belgian Championship for seniors this time. "My father and brother insisted, but I have a plan with Derby that was perfectly executed until the EC. Derby is 9 years old and just a bit too young for the BC. Next year, I can see us staking part."
Numbers two and three
Bas Moerings (NED) came in second with Kivinia (I'M Special de Muze x Calido I). Italian rider Graziano Tazzi followed in third place with Qu D.C. (Quod D.C. x Gratus D.C.) and Gregory Wathelet (BEL) placed fourth, with Flagship de Hus (Cornet Obolensky x Fergar Mail).
