Tim Price and Jarillo en route to victory in the 2025 5* at Pau. The Kiwi combo are back again this week to defend their title at the last big event of the European season. Photo by Libby Law Photography
World No.1 eventer Tim Price is heading back to Les 5* Etoiles de Pau this week to defend his title at the last big European event of the season where he’ll be joined by three other Kiwi riders all keen to chase top honours.
Price has three horses on the card, including his 2025 winner Jarillo. “As the reigning champ he has more to lose than win but he is feeling in really good form,” says Price. “He had a good last run at Little Downham and I am looking forward to having him there. He is such a class horse.”
The 12-year-old Dutch-bred gelding was on standby through the spring for the World Championships but wasn’t needed. “Now here we are heading to Pau to defend our title – hopefully.”
Ten-year-old French-bred gelding Garcon is on debut at 5* level. “I am really excited about him,” says Price. “He is a super brave, tough, hardly little horse who loves to gallop. He could be very good, but obviously it is his debut at the level so what will be will be. I will be guided by him.”
Fourteen-year-old Dutch-bred gelding Happy Boy has plenty of experience under his belt. “He was fourth last year so if I can pull all the right levers and do a good job then he could be very successful there.”
Jonelle Price heads to France with a strong trio of horses, including her 2022 Pau winner Grappa Nera, a 15-year-old Dutch-bred black mare who was eighth at Luhmuhlen (2026) and sixth at Badminton (2024). She is also in aboard the 14-year-old gelding Capitaine de Hus Z, who was fourth at Luhmuhlen in June and won the 4*-L at Scone Palace in August. Jonelle’s third mount is Senor Crocodillo, her 2026 World Championships horse who was 10th last year at Pau and 13th at Luhmuhlen.
Pau is an event that Price loves. “Because it is the last event of the season, everyone looks forward to it. It is a very pretty spot,” she says.
“Somehow I have ended up with three horses again for Pau this year . . . not necessarily by choice though! Sometimes horses tend to choose their direction,” she said.
“Crocodillo is backing up from the World Champs, so timing-wise it was the right move for him. Grappa Nero suits the flat terrain – I think Burghley is a bit tough on her in dimensions and terrain, so that is why she heads back to Pau.
“The Thomson’s Capitaine de Hus Z is a horse who is just coming to the top level. He had a really good debut at Luhmuhlen in the spring. I just felt he needed to consolidate but I would like to think he will go on to the big Bs next year. They are all in really good shape.”
Caroline Powell will contest Pau with her 14-year-old Dutch-bred gelding High Time. Abby Jones and Henton Audacious are chasing their first 5* completion.
The event gets underway on Thursday (France time) with the first horse inspection and beginning of the 5* dressage, which continues through Friday. Pierre Michelet (FRA) will test the field with his cross country course on Saturday, with the second horse inspection on Sunday morning followed by the jumping which will decide the final placings.
New Zealand has a strong history with the Pau 5* with Tim Price having twice won – 2025 on Jarillo and 2021 on Falco, Jonelle Price won in 2022 on Grappa Nera, and Andrew Nicholson won in 2012 with Nereo.
WHAT: Les 5* Etoiles de Pau
WHEN: October 22-25, 2026
WHERE: Domaine de Sers, Pau, France
MORE INFO: https://www.event-pau.com/
START LISTS AND RESULTS: https://www.event-pau.com/
LIVESTREAM: www.tv.event-pau.fr
For more information:
ESNZ high performance media liaison
021 222 0145
