De Miranda wins the Speed Challenge at Gucci Paris Masters

The Speed Challenge is one of the fastest, most entertaining and eagerly-awaited classes at the prestigious show in the French capital and once again it did not disappoint.

Coming into the competition arena at the Salon du Cheval de Paris as number 23 to go, the Brazilian skilfully negotiated AD Nouvelle Europe Z to a fast clear round, stopping the clock on 59.13 seconds with no time added.

Germany’s Christian Ahlmann came closest after giving everything on Aragon Z, slotting into second place after a clear round in a time of 59.48 seconds.

Buoyed by home support, France’s Roger Yves Bost came out fourth-last but had to settle for third place aboard Sydney Une Prince with a clear round time of 60.05 seconds.

Belgium’s Constant Van Paesschen on Diamanthina van't Ruytershof took fourth place, the Netherlands Gerco Schröder with Glock's Prince de Vaux slotted into fifth, with fellow Dutchman Maikel van der Vleuten on VDL Groep Eureka making up the top six.

There was better news however for van der Vleuten in the Prix GDE as he rode VDL Groep Verdi TN N.O.P to victory in the 1.55 class

Saturday's two opening five star classes at the Gucci Paris Masters went to riders from Switzerland; Steve Guerdat and Martin Fuchs.

Guerdat won the 1.45 Prix Le Figaro aboard Albfuehren's Memphis, a second ahead of France's Laurent Goffinet on Qantar des Etisses, with Gerco Schröder on Glock's Prince de Vaux taking third.

To complete the Swiss double, Martin Fuchs on Picsou du Chene won the 1.50 Prix Salon du Cheval.

Six riders enjoyed double clear rounds, but Fuchs was the fastest one of all with his time of 31.87 in the jump-off. In second came Christian Ahlmann and Aragon Z with a time of 32.14 seconds with van der Vleuten again making the top three when riding VDL Groep Eureka.

In the Battle of the Sexes, it was case of girl power prevailing and a little bit of history being made. France’s Penelope Leprevost took the honours, with the USA’s Lauren Hough claiming second spot and Ukraine’s Katharina Offel in third.

Four women and seven men went clear in the first round of the 1.55 class, before the three girls ensured a little piece of history was theirs, taking all three of the podium spots for the first time.