Edited press release from Longines Global Champions Tour

There wasn’t a dry eye in Rome as Victor Bettendorf (LUX) secured his first ever Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix win onboard the 9-year-old mare Foxy de La Roque (Armitages Boy x Kannan). Under the picturesque setting of Circus Maximus, last-to-go Bettendorf picked up the penultimate golden ticket to the exclusive Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix in Riyadh later this year. 

Simon Delestre (FRA) had to settle for second today with I Amelusina R 51 (Dexter R x Chin Chin) as he stopped the clock over three seconds slower than Bettendorf, in 37.51 seconds. The only other double clear of the day went to LGCT Grand Prix of Cannes-winner Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann (GER) on Messi van 't Ruytershof (Plot Blue x For Pleasure) who opted to play it safe and guarantee herself a place on the podium for third place in 39.76 seconds. 

Tearing up in his winners interview, Bettendorf said: “It's a dream come true to compete with all these guys at these shows. I will need to sleep a few days to realize this win I think. I was already happy just to be qualified for the Grand Prix when you see the list of the riders. So I did not even dream about winning. She did her first ranking class last year in August and since then it’s just improving and it’s like a walk in the park with that mare. I’m going in the ring and I’m having fun, so that’s the reason why we do this sport, it’s amazing” 

Talking about his qualification for the LGCT Super Grand Prix he went on: “Normally I watch these shows on TV. I never even dreamed that I get to participate in a show like that - so it's a bit strange that I am going to be there.”

Securing his fair share of the €500,000 prize pot, Simon Delestre explained: “I had a feeling that I could go faster than Janne and I had a feeling that Victor would go faster than me. So I tried to go for it and secure a clear. At the moment Amelusina is in super form and will go to Rabat where I hope we can catch the last ticket for the LGCT Super Grand Prix!”

On flying form, Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann told GCTV: “I am so happy, what can I say? It was a little bit of a tactic going in since there was no clear before me, so I went for the clear. For us the team Cannes Stars is the priority, but still if you have the chance in the LGCT championship to have a good ranking I will give it my best.”

Now leading the LGCT Championship going into the final stage in Rabat after his fourth place finish today, Christian Kukuk said: “I am close to being speechless. It's unbelievable the performance Just Be Gentle brings week after week and Grand Prix after Grand Prix. It was very important today. I was the first to go out of Max Kühner and I, and having that clear round puts him a little bit under pressure.” 

It is closer than ever heading into the LGCT Championship Finals. After Max Kühner’s 12 faults in today’s LGCT Grand Prix of Rome, he handed the lead to Christian Kukuk on 242 points while Kühner stays on 234 points. Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann has jumped into third place on 216 points, and after a rail down in the jump-off today Maikel van der Vleuten slides into fourth on 212 points making it a race to the finish in Morocco.