The Italians continued their reign at CSIO5* Al Ain (UAE) on Saturday, when Paolo Paini (ITA) took his second win of the weekend – this time in the prestigious 300,000 Euro Longines Grand Prix. Riding Ottava Meraviglia Di Ca´San G (For Pleasure x Cosima), Paini rode one of the only three double clear rounds in the class and took home the first prize of 75,000 Euro with his time 52,14 seconds in round two. 

Out of the 50 starters in the class, 14 pairs managed to produce clears in the first round over the 1.60m fences on the course set by Bernardo Costa Cabral (POR). Only the top three kept a clear score also in the second round; Frédéric David (FRA) on Equador van’t Roosakker (Nabab de Reve x Usha van’t Roosakker) placed second with his time of 54,25 seconds and the third place went to Francesco Turturiello (ITA) on Quinoa Des Pres (Quidam’s Rubin x Tristana) with a time of 54,40 seconds.

Earlier during the day the 92,000 Euro 1.45m accumulator class sponsored by ADSC went to Abdulrahman Alrajhi (KSA) on Varo M (Pierrot x Odile) with a time of 43,97 seconds. Abdelkebir Quaddar (MAR) on Cordano Sitte Z (Carthago Z x Insel Sitte) took the second place with a time of 44,06 seconds and Patrice Delaveau (FRA) on Carinjo HDC (Cascavelle x Exquisite) placed third with the tiniest of margins, clocking the time of 44,08 seconds.