Jonelle Price wins Pau five star 2022
Jonelle Price from New Zealand has won the Pau Horse Trials 5* competition in France. Riding Grappa Nera, an 11 year old mare. They were 13th after dressage but jumping a double clear across country and then showjumping clear within the time allowed them to remain on their score of 31.3.
After winning Jonelle Price said “I certainly didn’t expect this result. She is a good jumper, but sometimes the moment can get to her as she’s quite excitable. I knew Karim was jumping clear, so I tried to stay down the chute and just keep her a bit quiet and away from the atmosphere. But look, she jumped her socks off today. I always thought she was a good horse and it was just a question of when we saw some of that and she came through for us, not if.”
The black mare, who is similar in looks to Jonelle’s famous horse Classic Moet, together they won the 5* Badminton Horse Trials in 2018, however Jonelle Price explained that Grappa Nera’s appearance is where the similarities with her five-star stalwart end: “She’s very different to Classic Moet and if anything, I’d compare her more with my other five-star mare Faerie Dianimo as they rival each other in terms of hotness. They are also both fiercely determined and athletic. I want to give a big mention to The Grape Syndicate, who co-own her with me, because for years I’ve been saying ‘don’t you worry, we’ll get there’ as she’s been cavorting around dressage arenas and whatnot at one-day events, so they’ve had to be very patient.”
Karim Florent Laghourg from France finished in second place riding the 15 year old gelding Triton Fontaine after jumping a clear showjumping round with Hector Payne from Great Britain finishing in third place riding the 12 year old gelding Dynasty.