Edited press release from Longines Global Champions Tour

In an electrifying 1.50m speed class, fourth to go Christian Kukuk (GER) and Checker 47 (Comme Il Faut x Come On, bred by Wolfgang Kipp and owned by M.H. & Partner Gbr and Madeleine Winter-Schulze) delivered from the get go and set the pace to clinch victory in the final class of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Rome. On form Peder Fredricson (SWE) and Hansson WL (Hip Hop x Iowa, bred by Walltorp Lantbruks AB and owned by Astrid Ohlin and Masel Ab) left spectators in awe as he finished fractions of a second slower, stopping the clock in 66.03s against Kukuk's 65.87. 

“I had a good feeling all weekend but have been a little bit unlucky," Kukuk said afterwards. "In this class I knew that the oxer of Lugano Diamonds had plenty of risk as the rail fell for a few riders, but I took the risk and it really paid off.”

Katrin Eckermann (GER) gave everything with Chao Lee (Comme Il Faut x Chacco-Blue, bred and owned by Otmar Eckermann), taking strides out where possible and everyone held their breath as she flew over the final oxer to cross the finish line in 66.81s and secured third place. Laura Kraut (USA) and Calgary Tame (Old Chap Tame x Kashmir van'T Schuttershof, bred by SCEA Brohier Denis & Patrick Bizot & Eugenie Angot and owned by Eugenie Angot and Stars and Stripes) produced a flawless round only just off the winning pace and claimed fourth, while Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) and Don Vito (Quaprice Bois Margot x Jus de Pomme, bred by E. van Ittersum and owned by Poden Farms) finished fifth.