Edited press release from Royal Windsor Horse Show

The CSI5* 1.50m Manama Rose Show Stakes took Sunday's morning session at Royal Windsor Horse Show by storm with speed and accuracy at the heart of the single phase competition. Robert Whitaker riding Evert (Amadeus x Indoctro) was the first of the 26 combinations and kicked-off the class with a clear round in a time of 58.64 seconds. The course consisted of fourteen combinations with an unusual horizontal striped oxer and a brown upright decorated with large plastic swans causing numerous problems. 

Sixth to go was Italian Lorenzo de Luca, who flew around the course on Violino Il Palazetto (Verdi TN x Jasper) and took nearly a second off Whitaker’s time to become the new leader. The class then had a flurry of clears from a number of top riders, including Steve Guerdat and Scott Brash.

American Olympic rider Laura Kraut took to the ring as 21st to go on her stunning chestnut Calgary Tame (Old Chap Tame x Kashmir Van'T Schuttershof), and wowed the crowd with her tight lines — ultimately completing the course with the fastest round of 56.44 seconds, the only rider to complete in less than 57 seconds to win the Manama Rose Show Stakes. De Luca finished second, followed by Scott Brash on Hello Victoria (Kannan x Olisco) in third. 

Kraut said: “I love Windsor, this is one of the best shows. I’m thrilled, my horse was just absolutely perfect. Two of his owners got here for today so they got to see him win, so it was a great day.”

Speaking about Calgary Tame, Kraut continued: “He’s very, very quick and he’s tiny, so what would be a normal line for most horses is fast for him. He’s so brave and loves to win! Honestly, I watched the first two go and they were so fast, I didn’t think I could catch them. They didn’t leave room for improvement, but if I took the same lines as them he was just that much quicker.”