A nice start for the American show jumper, who wins the Trophée de Genève, the first important competition of the CHI Genève 2021, for the fifth time in the jump-off. He prevailed ahead of the world number 1 and 2.

Year after year and again, one could remark with Kent Farrington: On Thursday evening, he repeated his success of 2019 by winning the Trophée de Genève again with Creedance. A competition in which he holds the absolute record the numbers of victories, as he has won it five times since 2013, three of them with this gelding. And the American also lived up to his reputation as a showman by enchanting the audience at Palexpo with his well-known manner, riding the jump-off course at an ultra-fast pace while also absolutely mastering the turns.

The Trophée de Genève was the first major competition at this year's CHI Genève 2021, where the aim for many of the competing riders was to qualify for the Rolex Grand Prix on Sunday. 13 pairs, who had remained clear after the initial course, competed against each other on the shortened course of the jump-off. Among them were also three Swiss riders: Martin Fuchs, who rode to fourth place with Connor Jei at the end, as well as the young Bryan Balsiger and Edouard Schmitz, who took eighth and ninth place with one pole each on the ground. Neither the world number one, Sweden's Peder Fredricson with H&M Christian K, nor Germany's Daniel Deusser with his good Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z were able to beat Kent Farrington's brilliant time, no matter how hard they tried.

I love this tournament and always want to do well here," said the American after the award ceremony. "I always prepare my horses specifically to be fast on this particular ground, and of course it's very satisfying when that pays off.

The first day of the CHI Genève 2021 ended with great sport, launching the tournament with the best possible omens.