Niels Bruynseels (BEL) and the 11-year-old mare Gancia de Muze (Malito de Reves x Nimmerdor) were the best in Friday's CSI5*-W 1,55m competition presented by Prestige in Verona.

With a double clear round in 33,52 seconds, Bruynseels was two seconds faster than runner-up Douglas Lindelöw (SWE) with Zacramento (Cardento x Cortus) in this class counting for the Longines Ranking. 

Sergio Alvarez Moya (ESP) crossed the finish line a bit behind Lindelöw to take the third place, riding G&C Arrayan (Baloubet du Rouet x Grannus). Fourth place went to Christian Ahlmann (GER) with Colorit (Coriano x Capitol), while Marc Houtzager (NED) ended fifth with Sterrehof’s Calimero (Quidam de Revel x Achill).

“I have two brilliant mares right now with my top horse Cas de Liberte, and with Gancia too!” said Bruynseels after his win. Gancia however is according to her rider a bit special: “She has a character and I respect that, and that’s why she always tries to win for me! She doesn’t like dressage so it’s really easy for me during the week, I don’t have to flat her so often, she likes to to go for a walk outside and go on the lunge and I respect that. At the show she doesn’t need to jump much in the warm-up, maybe six or seven jumps with her and then she goes in the ring and always tries to do her best,” said the Belgian rider who has had a fantastic year. 

Earlier in the day Luca Maria Moneta (ITA) ended up on top of the CSI5*-W 1,50m class against the clock presented by KASK. Moneta rode the 16-year-old Neptune Brecourt (Cavalor Cumano x Kayack) to a time of 58,38 in this class counting for the Longines Ranking – more than five seconds faster than runner-up Jane Richard Philips (SUI) with Izmir van de Baeyenne (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Nonstop). Third place went to Massimiliano Ferrario (ITA) with Loro Piana Rigoletto della Flo (For Pleasure x Quidam de Revel), fourth place to Marcus Ehning (GER) with Calanda (Calido I x Chasseur I) and fifth place to Giulia Martinengo Marquet (ITA) with Elzas (Diamant de Semilly x Cornet Obolensky).

Filippo Marco Bologni (ITA) with Quidich de la Chavee (President x Apache d’Adriers) won the CSI5*-W 1,45 class presented by Laurent Perrier that started the day in Verona. He was followed by country man Luca Maria Moneta with Ambra (Quintender x Grandeur), Eduardo Alvarez Aznar (ESP) with Fidux (Malito de Reve x Voltaire), Penelope Leprevost (FRA) with Ilena de Mariposa (Berlin x For Pleasure) and Rene Lopez (COL) with Big Brother (Untouchable 27 x Gran Corrado).