Fresh from his fantastic run of top results at CHI Geneva, Italy's Emanuele Gaudiano went on to win Thursday's feature class at Olympia riding Caspar (Berlin x Padarco). The 1.55 Santa Stakes had a line-up of the world's very best, 30 in total and nine went on to the jump-off after first clear rounds. 

It was close to a home win for living legend John Whitaker on the 13-year-old stallion Argento (Arko III x Gasper), but his time came a bit short towards Gaudiano as 0.45 seconds separated the two riders. In third place came France's Olivier Robert aboard Quenelle du Py (Tresor du Renom x Ryon d'Anzex), almost a second behind the Italian winner's time. Fourth was Great Britain's Ben Maher and fifth Switzerland's Pius Schwizer, also both double clear. 

A Whitaker managed to secure a British win in the second CSI5* class of the day though; the 1.50 Porsche Cayenne Challenge. Robert Whitaker was the hero of the day on the 14-year old stallion USA Today (Heartbreaker x Capitol I) with a clear round in 50.25 seconds against the clock. And it was total British domination in this class with William Funnell ending second on Billy Angelo (Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve x Kroongraaf), 0.15 seconds behind Robert. Home riders Laura Renwick ended third and John Whitaker fourth, while Belgium's Jos Verlooy was the only non-British rider in the top five.