The German demonstrated his experience in the duel field of veterans to beat the British Michael Whitaker. (Photo © casi-basel.ch)
With total of 57 pair in the Prize of Bank J. Safra Sarasin AG was held at the close of the first day of CSI 5* Basel and the victory of German rider Hans-Dieter Dreher.
In a real fight of experience and talent, Dreher with Paul Bücheler’s 13-year-old gelding Cool and Easy (Contender x Riverman) stopped the clock in time of 54.29 seconds, getting 50 World Ranking Points and surpassing in the speed class to Briton Michael Whitaker by 24 hundredths of a second.
Registering a time of 54.53 seconds for second place by Whitaker and 15-year-old gelding Viking (Jacomar x Almox Prints) owned by Miss M Braybrooke, the audience’s attention focused on such a close fight for the top spot among the Veteran riders, where they gave a display of true talent in every obstacle they were liquidating.
Not too distant from the record of Dreyer and Whitaker, the Top 5 was completed by Frenchman ex-number 1 Simon Delestre who finished third with 11-year-old gelding Sultan du Chateau (Kannan *GFE x Galoubet A) in time of 55.13 seconds, the fourth place was the Swiss Roman Duguet and the 10-year-old mare Twentytwo des Biches (Mylord Carthago x Kalor du Bocage) in 55.57 seconds and closed the best five in the fifth number 1 in the world Daniel Deusser of Germany with the 10-year-old gelding Hidalgo SX (Quadrillo x Andiamo) owned by Stephex Stables in time of 56.22 seconds.
