February 12, 2025 
In show jumping, it’s not uncommon for international riders to peak in their 40s—seven of the current world top 10 are over the age of 42. It is uncommon, however, to make your 5* debut at that age.
But Cédric Hurel didn’t let a little thing like convention get in his way.
Hurel and his top horse Fantasio Floreval Z made their first international appearance in 2019. The Zangersheide gelding was originally intended to be a 1.30m horse for wife, as the French rider has made a career of training and trading horses up to 1.50m height. But when Fantasio Floreval Z entered his stable, Hurel’s ambitions gradually took on a different shape.
Then, some three years ago, at the tender age of 48, Hurel entered his first 5*.
According to the French rider, Fantasio isn’t usually the fastest horse in the jump-off. But during the 1.60m AUDI Grand Prix on Sunday, February 9, at CSI5*-W Jumping International de Bordeaux, the pair proved they had all the speed they needed.
In the first-round course by designer Jean-François Morand’s (FRA), multiple, delicate fences posed a considerable threat to the field of 30. Only four competitors—Hurel, World No. 9 Max Kühner (AUT), Pieter Devos (BEL), and Hurel’s countryman and World No. 10 Julien Épaillard—moved on to contest the jump-off.
“As there were only four of us in the jump-off, I knew that my place would be good, whether it was third or fourth. So, I thought I might as well try something by taking the tightest possible turns, as Fantasio tends to hold back a bit in the gallop,” Hurel said.
“As I started first, I didn’t have any preconceived ideas about the other riders. I just said to myself: I’ll take my chances and we’ll see.”
See he did—though Hurel hardly left Sunday’s Grand Prix up to chance. The French rider opted to retire on course during Saturday’s FEI World Cup qualifier in order to keep Fantasio Floreval Z fresh for the AUDI Grand Prix.
The calculation paid off, with the pair’s pathfinding jump-off time of 41.76 seconds just pipping Kühner and EIC Cooley Jump the Q on 42.08 seconds. Devos and Jarina J, and Épaillard and new mount Easy Up de Grandry, had four faults and eight faults, respectively.
In their more than five years together, Hurel and Fanstasio have notched a total of six 2* and 3* Grand Prix wins, and earned more than €436,300 in prize money according to Jumpr stats. The AUDI Grand Prix, however, is by far their most prestigious and only 5* victory to date.
“We’re off to a good start here, as we’re at the very beginning of the season,” Hurel reflected after the class. “We resumed last week after a month and a half off, and we’re already feeling good.”
“Off to a good start” may be a bit of an understatement from Hurel, but then, sometimes, the chance to start is all you really need.
