Second French victory for the rider at the CHIO Aachen

Roger-Yves Bost is currently dominating the show-jumping scene at the World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen (June 27th - July 6th). After finishing first and second in the two initial jumping competitions yesterday, the French rider also won the famous WARSTEINER Prize, the Prize of Europe, at the Soers on Wednesday. The 42-year-old beat his 12 fellow competitors in the jump-off with a clear round in a time of 47.63 seconds on Ideal de la Loge. The US-American Laura Kraut came second on Miss Independent (0/48.48), the Swiss rider Steve Guerdat finished third on Tresor V (0/48.54).

"No, I still don't see myself as a favourite to win the ROLEX Grand Prix," laughed Bost. "Sunday is still a long way off yet." Bost was pipped at the post in the 2007 ROLEX Grand Prix, the Grand Prix of Aachen, by the Vice-World Champion, Beezie Madden (USA). He also saddled the 12-year-old French-bred stallion, Ideal de la Loge last year. Two weeks before the European Championships in Mannheim in mid-August, the stallion had to undergo an operation after suffering from colic and wasn't able to compete for 8 months as a result. "But as one can see, he is great shape now," commented Bost, who prepared himself especially for the CHIO Aachen and this led to his decision not to compete at the tournament in Monaco last week.

The jump-off of the WARSTEINER Prize was ultimately decided between obstacles 11 and 12; where most of the other riders took eight canter strides. "When I saw that Christina Liebherr managed it in seven strides, I thought to myself: If you want to win, you are going to have to risk taking only six. Luckily I succeeded in doing so."

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