For the fourth consecutive year, the Mondial du Lion hosted the Selle Francais Championship for three-year-old horses over the last three days. Despite the unprecedented behind-closed-doors scenario, Les Espoirs du Complet (Eventing Hopes) nonetheless brought together an informed and international audience at each workshop, and once again impressed the actors of this large-scale event. The French, Irish, German, American, Spanish and even Dutch were notable with their responses.
Twenty Selle Français and Anglo-Arab horses were at the start of this championship co-organized with the Association Cheval Pays de la Loire, hand in hand with the National Anglo-Arab Association and promoted by France Complet. Three presentations took place at the Haras du Lion: free jumping Thursday evening in the arena, model on Friday morning (in lieu of the veterinary visit), and finally paces and jumping Friday afternoon under the watchful eyes of judges Jean-Pierre Cosnuau, Serge Cornut, Olivier Couve and Henry Brugier.
It should be said that they were 'hypnotized' by the 2020 generation of three-year-old fillies, after Hypnose de l'Être (Contendro [Holst] - Promise du Reverdy [SF] x Robin II Z [Hann]), bred by Tiphaine Thebault, during the event for females two weeks ago, and now Hypnose Grez Neuville (Taalex [DSP/ex Bavar] - Rue de l'Etoile xx x Olympic Boy xx), bred by Didier Dupeyrat, who won the 2020 Eventing Hopes.
Second and third on the podium were Histoire de Vieve (Cardero/ex Champs Elysees [Holst] - Cinnamara/ex Cyanna [Oldbg] x Café au Lait [Oldbg]), bred by Julie Baudart Aubert, and Halifax du Lirot (Lauterbach [Oldbg] - Cheilane de Blondel SF x Nonstop [BWP]), bred by the Pirou Equestrian Centre.
Almost half of the horses entered in the championship were presented during an exceptional sales evening in the riding school of the Haras du Lion. Despite the WBCYH being run behind closed door, few places remained for the sale (organized both 'live' and online).
The top price in the room was €12,000 paid for Horus du Rochereau (Candy de Nantuel [SF] - Pame du Coran [SF] x Quatar de Plape AA), bred by Anthony Morand.
The Eventing Hopes event has closed the 2020 Year of the Selle Français 'Championships', taking into account the cancellation of the three-year-old sport competition scheduled to be held at Equita Lyon. Our characterization and selection work continues, however, until the end of the year, with the stallion qualifying tour which will culminate in the December testing, then the stallion championship in February 2021.
