Edited press release from Morocco Royal Tour

Despite landing in the unfavorable position of being the first to go in Saturday's CSI4*-W 1.50m Prix De Dakhla in Tetouan, Italy's Emanuele Gaudiano laid it all out with the 11-year-old stallion Nikolaj de Music (Kannan x Nabab de Reve), crossing the timers in a blistering 37.71 seconds in a jump-off between eight horse-and-rider combinations. 

“When you start the jump-off, sometimes it’s not so easy, but okay, I have a very fast horse in the turns," he said. "When he’s here, he is a winner. He’s very fast, yet he is always careful enough to come back. He can be a bit strong, but I’ve ridden him since he was five-years-old, and he’s always been like that." 

“My family and I have a farm in south Italy with young horses," he continued. "All of my best horses are ones we’ve had and worked with since they were young, and they grow up with me… The groom is Gianko, and he’s been with me for a very long time. He comes from my region in south Italy and has also known me since I was very young." 

While nobody could catch Guadiano, each of the seven pairs who followed put forth a valiant effort. Switzerland’s Eva Gautschi came the closest with 39.98 seconds aboard the 10-year-old gelding Beam Me Up Scotty Vom Weihergut (Kannan x Lincoln) and Spain's Teresa Blazquez-Abascal with the 11-year-old mare Nasa de Toxandria (Vertigo Saint-Benoit x Chopin van het Moleneind) finished third in 40.38 seconds.