McLain Ward and HH Carlos Z (Chellano Z x Voltaire) continued their good form to win the 1.50 class in Rome on Thursday. The American rider had almost two seconds down to runner-up Lorenzo de Luca on Balou de Coeur Joye (Balou du Rouet x Argentinus), who secured a second place for the hosts. Third place went to world no. one Simon Delestre on Utah d'Aiguilly (Kashmir van't Schuttershof x Quick Star). Francois Mathy with Casanova de L'Herse (Ugano Sitte x Kashmir van Schuttershof) finished fourth, and Jeroen Dubbeldam with Carusso LS La Silla (Portofino x Joost) fifth.
Delestre's compatriot Kevin Staut and Elky van het Indihof HDC (Toulon x Thunder van de Zuuthoeve) won Thursday's biggest class. It was a 1.50-1.55 class against the clock, and the French rider ended the course in a time of 60.16 seconds. That was half a second faster than runner-up Eric Lamaze with Fine Lady 5 (Forsyth x Drosselklang II). Third place went to Carlos Lopez with Admara 2 (Padinus x Murano), fourth place to Marcus Ehning with Funky Fred (For Pleasure x Pilot) and Lorenzo de Luca with Limestone Grey by Try-Time took the fifth place.
Text © World of Showjumping // Picture © CSIO Rome / M. Proli