With the sun setting over the stunning Piazza de Siena, right in the heart of Rome, it was the Irish flag that flew the highest in the opening day's main class, a 1.55m against the clock presented by Intesa Sanpaolo.

Mark McAuley (IRL) on the 13-year-old gelding Miebello (Flyinge Quite Easy x Cardento) set a time of 67,02 seconds as number six to go, and out of the starter field of 52 pairs no one could catch him. The Irish rider was surprised, but then again not: "Coming here, it was my plan to win this class. But that it all works out on the day, it's just fantastic," he said after the prize giving ceremony. "I was early on in the class, so I was really not sure how fast I should go, but I made a plan and stuck to it. I was worried about all the fast riders coming after me and in the end Kevin (Staut) got pretty close," Mark said of his round. 

Having been based in Italy earlier on during his career, winning in Rome has a special meaning: "To me, this feels like winning at home."

The new pair has shown great form lately, placing second in the CSI4* Grand Prix in Bourg en Bresse last Sunday. "I have only been riding Miebello since my girlfriend Charlotte Mordasini had a bad fall and has been off the saddle for two months. She is getting better and has just started to ride again," Mark explained.

Kevin Staut (FRA) on the 11-year-old stallion Silver Deux de Virton HDC (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Heartbreaker) took the second place with a time of 68,75 seconds. Sergio Alvarez Moya on the 9-year-old gelding Iron Man 111 (Chatman x Capitol I) placed third with a time of 68,78 seconds, while the home crowds were pleased to see Guido Franchi (ITA) on the 13-year-old stallion Quixotic DC (Burggraaf x Abdullah) place fourth with a time of 70,40 seconds. Fifth place went to Eduardo Alvarez Aznar (ESP) on the 9-year-old gelding Uqualin du Saulcy (Quincy x Quaprice) with a time of 71,15 seconds.

Text and picture © World of Showjumping by Nanna Nieminen