CSI**** Caen - Florian Angot’s Comeback!

Ever since the retirement of his stallion First de Launay, with whom he had won the Grand Prix de Caen three times (in 2004, 2006 and 2007), Florian Angot has been rather discrete. Only a few people would have dared to bet on the victory of the Norman at the beginning of Jumping de Caen 2010.  And yet he made it!
Florian Angot Remise des Prix copyright Jennifer Decamp bd.jpgFor Made in Semilly, Angot’s new amazing showpiece, this Grand Prix GDE of Caen is his second victory on international level, but the first victory in a Grand Prix. The horse already showed its qualities in the Grand Prix of Lisbon, where it was placed fourth. It’s true that Caen is somewhat of a “private territory” for Florian Angot, an ideal ground for a victorious comeback under the observation of the national trainer Laurent Elias, as well as his technical advisor Henk Nooren.

Eric Levallois: “Made in Semilly is a very sensible horse that had lost a little self confidence after August. The misfortune ever since the French Championship had not gotten better and I had to spend some time on smaller competitions to make him regain this confidence. Even here, I had to qualify for the Grand Prix with my young horse, Open Up, that I am preparing for the WEG because Made In can be unhinged by the smallest irregularities. Today I really appreciated the quality of the course designed by Rothenberger.”

Lauren Hough (on Prezioso) from the American team was the runner-up to Angot, and proves herself a competitor that should not be underestimated: Last summer, she won the Global Champions Tour of Hamburg. “This second place made me regain confidence after the disappointments in Lexington. This competition in Caen is perfect: I was impressed by its quality, the ground, the organizing team… And I am very positive about the success of Normandie 2014.”

From now on, everyone is dreaming of a fifth star for the CSI**** that Caen and the Lower Normandy as a territory of horse breeding would deserve on its way towards the WEG 2014. And as if by coincidence, the winner of the last class of the day – the Prix Hôtel Mercure – is a former World Champion: the German Franke Sloothaak (WEG winner of 1994) seems to wink at the future WEG grounds.

Full results on www.jump-results.com/OPEN/caen10.htm