After winning Wednesday’s Sport Ireland Classic, Thursday’s Serpentine Speed Stakes and Anglesea Stakes, Friday’s Nations Cup as well as Saturday’s JLT Dublin Stakes – Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca crowned his fantastic weekend in Dublin with victory in Sunday’s Longines International Grand Prix of Ireland.

It is safe to say that Lorenzo de Luca’s confidence was on a peak as the CSIO5* 1.60 Grand Prix was approaching, as the Italian rider – who works in Belgium at Stephex Stables – had won nearly everything there was to win at the Irish event. After a double clear in Friday’s Nations Cup with the 12-year-old gelding Ensor de Litrange Lxii (Nabab De Reve x Mr. Blue), the pair was anticipated as one of the hottest candidates to win today’s prestigious Grand Prix in Dublin – and did not disappoint.

With one of only two double clear rounds in the competition, De Luca convinced again and beat home hero Shane Breen on the 11-year-old stallion Golden Hawk (Vigo d'Arsouilles x Chin Chin) by 0.63 seconds in the jump-off that consisted of only four riders.

USA’s Audrey Coulter impressed with the big-jumping stallion Capital Colnardo (Colman x Coronado) to finish third, with one rail down in the jump-off. Fourth went to Cian O’Connor, also on four faults, who secured two Irish in the top five aboard Good Luck (Canturo x Furioso ii). Two riders were unlucky to miss out on the chase against the clock as Sweden’s Angelie von Essen and Czech rider Ondrej Zvara finished outside the time allowed with one penalty each to place fifth and sixth. 

Text © World of Showjumping // Archive picture © Jenny Abrahamsson