"I trust him so much and I believe he knows how much I love him," Giulia Martinengo Marquet said about Delta Del'Isle after the two topped Friday's CSI5*-W 1.55m at Jumping Verona. Photo © Nanna Nieminen/WoSJ.
Text © World of Showjumping
Giulia Martinengo Marquet (ITA) and the 11-year-old gelding Delta Del’Isle (Tibet Tame x Grain de Soleil) won Friday’s CSI5*-W 1.55m presented by Selleria Equipe as the 2024-edition of Jumping Verona in Italy got underway with its five-star action.
Twenty out of the 47 horse-and-rider combinations at start cleared the first-round track set by Italy’s very own Uliano Vezzani in this 1.55m competition counting for the Longines Rankings Group C. However, with five riders opting not to return for the jump-off, the battle was left between fifteen pairs.
In the jump-off, only four pairs managed to deliver another clear with Martinengo Marquet and Delta Del’Isle clocking the fastest time when crossing the finish line 35.87 seconds – much to the delight of the enthusiastic Italian crowds.
"Obviously, I need to thank the big team that is behind Delta," Martinengo Marquet said after Friday's victory. Photo © Nanna Nieminen/WoSJ.
“I am so happy,” Martinengo Marquet said afterwards. “It is a little bit like a home show for me, so it was a fantastic start today. I have a horse that is simply incredible, everything seems possible with him. He gives me the confidence to try hard and be fast. I trust him so much and I believe he knows how much I love him. Obviously, I need to thank the big team that is behind Delta. He actually does not live with us, so there are many people I need to thank for this result.”
Having posted the first clear in the jump-off, Mario Stevens (GER) and Starissa (Stakkato Gold x Quidam’s Rubin) had to settle for second in 37.27, while Kevin Jochems (NED) and Camilla van de Helle (Crumble x Casall) placed third in 37.74, followed by Lara Tryba (FRA) and Memphis Z (Mylord Carthago x Candillo) in fourth in 39.86. The fifth place went to Julien Anquetin (FRA) and Farah Tame (Quadrio Tame x Panama Tame), who posted the fasted time in the competition – 33.73 – but paid for the risk with a fence down.
The second CSI5*-W class of the day – a 1.50m presented by Banca Passadore counting for the Longines Rankings Group D – went to Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA) and Nikolaj de Music (Kannan x Nabab de Reve) ahead of Barbara Schnieper (SUI) and Judy KM (Joly St. Huber x Saphir von der Rossi) in second and Jérôme Guery (BEL) on Great Britain V (Nabab de Reve x Carolus H) in third.
Then