Matt Sampson scores a five-star win at the LLN Gassin - St Tropez with Un Secreto Z
Monday 21 September 2026
Matt Sampson galloped into victory in the 5* 1.50m at the LLN Gassin - St Tropez with Un Secreto Z.
“He’s my number 1 horse at the minute. He did the warm-up class out here and this was his first bigger class, and it worked out well,” said Matt. “I’m very happy with his progress, he’s moving up to five-star level really well – he’s good one for the future.”
Forty riders contended this speed class over course-designer Gregory Bodo’s (FRA) 12-fence, 15-effort 1.50m track with Matt striding out in typical style on Maplepark Farms’ 11-year-old stallion Un Secreto (Ultra Boy x Arko III) to win by 0.22 seconds.
“I just tried to do a nice, upbeat round and everything came up how we wanted it to. He jumped super and it was great to get a win at such a good show, especially before the Nations Cup, it was great confidence boost for him, and he jumped super in the Nations Cup – I was very happy with that,” said Matt.
“The course was tough enough for a 1.50m, there wasn’t loads of clears and those that took a risk had a fence down which worked in my favour as I didn’t do a crazy fast round, I just kept a nice rhythm and it all came nice, flowing and smooth.”
James Billington claims victory in the Lexington 2* Grand Prix
USA-based James Billington secured victory in the Lexington $65,000 Hagyard 2* Grand Prix with Inajottie VDM on the Split Rock Jumping Tour.
Thirty-four competitors set out over the 1.45m course with 12 qualifying for the jump-off. James set off in determined style and maintained a quick yet smooth pace on the Carrera VDL x Indoctro 13-year-old Inajottie to sweep into a 0.62 second win over his USA rival Lisa Goldman-Smolen on Romeo B.
“It was good,” said James.
Chad Fellows takes two podium places in Italy
Chad Fellows was in the money in Abbasanta, Italy, with two podium places.
Chad picked up third in the world ranking 3* 1.45m with Chianti’s Casall. Thirty-six riders contended this two-phase class with Chad and the 12-year-old Chaloubet Tailormade x Casall stallion finishing 2.54 seconds behind the winner, Italy’s Roberto Turchetto on Bubalou.
A rail down in round 3 of the Six-Bar dropped Chad into third with the nine-year-old NPS Klooney.
Jude Burgess and Galwaybay Esmeralda claims fourth in the World Breeding Championships for Seven-year-olds
Jude Burgess and Galwaybay Esmeralda finished just off the podium and fourth in the FEI Jumping World Breeding Championships for Seven-year-olds at Lanaken in Belgium.
Forty-one horses qualified for the Seven-year-old final out of a possible 194 starters over course-designer Bernard Mathy’s 13-fence, 16-effort 1.45m track. Only 13 survived the challenges to advance to the jump-off with seven posting double clears. Jude slotted the Emerald x Mermus R mare into fourth spot 1.86 seconds behind the winner, The Netherlands’ Roosje Brouwer on Elotte Z (Eldorado VS Zeshoek x Larino). The Netherlands’ Max van der Poll finished second on Ortane (Balou Du Rouet x Quinar Z) ahead of Germany’s Christian Ahlmann with Toemme De Rigor Z (Chacco Blue x Cento).
Image: CWD/Instagram
