Edited press release from Global Champions League
 

Madrid In Motion’s Laura Kraut (USA) riding Bisquetta (Bisquet Balou vd Mispelaere x Takashi van Berkenbroek, bred by Claire McCarthy-Winters and owned by Cherry Knoll Farm, Inc) 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) secured the victory together with Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) riding Beauville Z N.O.P. (Bustique x Jumpy des Fontaines, bred by Pascal Habets and owned by Pontegadea Espana SLU Marta Ortega Perez) and Dywis HH (Toulon x Corofino II, bred by Peter Huisman and owned by Pontegadea Espana SLU Marta Ortega Perez) as the only team on four faults in the Global Champions League of Rome – the 14th League venue of the 2023-season.

“Beauville feels in great shape here and as we all saw it was a tough course," van der Vleuten said. "Laura and I tried to ride as strong as possible and our horses were really fighting for us today.”

“I am just thrilled, this is really exciting," Kraut said. "This is a great team to be with and all horse people so Maikel said to me, you do the best you can do and that is all we can do.”

With their win, Madrid In Motion also secured their spot in the top four of the GCL Championship, which means a fast-track ticket straight to the GCL Super Cup Semi-Finals at the GC Prague Playoffs in November. 

GCL Rome saw a slightly new format as the course stayed the same over both rounds, with the height just increasing by 5cm for round two. Team Paris Panthers placed second while team Istanbul Warriors powered by Carpe diem completed the podium in third. 

Heading into the final in Riyadh, Riesenbeck International leads the GCL overall ranking with 302 points, followed by Paris Panthers in second with 199 points, Madrid In Motion in third with 264 points and St Tropez Pirates in fourth with 237.5 points.