Edited press release from CSIO Roma - Piazza di Siena 

For the second time this week, the Brazilian national anthem rang out across the oval at Piazza di Siena in Rome, Italy, when Stephan Freitas de Barcha stormed to victory with Dinozo Imperio Egipcio (Diamant de Semilly x Urbain du Monnai) in Saturday afternoon’s battle for the CSIO5* 1.55m Loro Piana Trophy.

It was no easy win. From a class of 66 starters there were 16 through to the second round against the clock, and course designer Uliano Vezzani (ITA) set them a jump-off track that tested accuracy and rideability as well as pure pace.

Sweden’s Wilma Hellström set the early target with a careful tour of the new track, bringing her grey mare, Eleven (Coltaire Z x Divin du Murier) home in 42.11 seconds when third to go, but it was obvious that time was not going to be the winning one. Try as they would however, the next five couldn’t leave all the poles in place, Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs scorching home with his winner of the opening class of the week, L&L Upgrade (Ultimo x Baloubet du Rouet), in 34.66 seconds but clipping the rustic vertical, now third on the track, which proved the undoing of many taking a tight approach.

America’s McLain Ward and Imperial HBF (Glasgow vh Merelsnest x Original VDL) made no mistake however when setting the new target at 36.73 when ninth to go. But de Freitas Barcha blew the class wide open when steering Dinozo through the timers in exactly the same time as Fuchs but leaving all the timber intact two horses later. It was a brilliant ride, with Dinozo laser-focused from start to finish.

That just could no be bettered, Ireland’s Cian O’Connor and Fermoy (Chaccos' Son x Light On) slotting into third behind Ward when clear in 36.93, and the home crowd had plenty to cheer about when, second-last into the ring, young Davide Vitale (ITA) brought his spectacular week in Rome to the perfect finish when lining up in fourth with his bouncy stallion Earl Grey Z (Elliot Van Ter Hulst x Sandro Boy) when clear in 39.85. Fifth spot went to Norway’s Marit Haarr Skollerud Cox and Nelson van'T Roosakker (Zandor x Kashmir Van Schuttershof) whose time of 40.82 seconds pinned Hellström back to sixth place.

De Freitas Barcha was elated afterwards. He has already done a lot in his career but he attributed his success this week so far to the boost he got from a conversation with his hero, McLain Ward earlier in the week. “For me McLain is an idol, and the first day during the class I was first and he did an amazing job and took the victory from me (in the Range Rover Speed). Afterwards he said some words to me - we just talked about the sport, about what I’m doing, he said I’m doing great and it was such important words for me. I felt honoured. I’m young, I’m from Brazil, I did the Pan Ams, I was fifth at the Olympics (Paris 2024 Olympic Games) but when you hear from your idol some words like this it’s so important and it gives me more determination to keep fighting and to keep trying to be better," said the man who scored his first win of the week with Chevaux Hex Lup Imperio Egipcio in Thursday’s MAG Two-Phase competition.

De Freitas Barcha was thrilled with the performance of the bold, brave Dinozo who simply gave his everything to win and looked to enjoy every moment of it. “We bought this special horse from Doda Miranda who did an amazing job with him in Brazil," he explained. "Doda is a good friend and when he called me and said let’s try to make something to have this horse with you, it was exciting. We bought him in December and I’ve only done two or three shows with him before coming here, and I’m so happy with this horse. I’d like to say thank you to Doda because he did an amazing job and I’m just enjoying this horse so much now."