The closing class class on the Thursday of De Kraal International, the Ashford Farms Prize (CSI4* Table A with jump-off, 1.45m, qualification for the Grand Prix), was convincingly won by the young French rider Titouan Schumacher and his 14-year-old SF mare Oceane de Nantuel (Diamant De Semilly x Quidam de Revel). The 22-year-old set halfway the jump-off, for which 15 combinations had qualified, a real fast time of 41.31 which, at the end, gave him top prize. He was really happy with the victory and he “was going to celebrate the win accordingly”, as he said afterwards. Titouan has already gained quite some experience as a Junior and Young Rider. He participated at the EC for Juniors in 2012 and in 2014 and 2015 he represented France at the European Championships for Young Riders. He is having a good year with Oceane de Nantuel and had victories and good placings in Opglabbeek, Knokke, Sancourt and Le Touquet. Titouan rides and workes at Haras des Brimbelles in Saint Aubin sur Gaillon. The stud is owned by his parents, Guy and Christel Schumacher.
Brazil’s 32-year-old Adir Abreu Junior finished in second place with the 12-year-old BWP gelding Evanco VH Weidse Hof (Vancouver d’Auvray x Don Renoir). The combination stopped the clock at 43.25. In third came Schumacher’s compatriot Antoine Courpied with the SF gelding Soleil Levant (Kairouan Rouge x Arpege Pierreville), 0-0-44.12.
Best Belgian combination was Constant Van Paesschen in fourth position with the nine-year-old Holsteiner stallion Carlow Van De Helle (Caretino x Corofino I), double clear in 44.84.
Full results