Edited press release from CSIO Roma - Piazza di Siena 

On an afternoon full of unexpected twists and turns, Brazil’s Yuri Mansur and his brilliant mare Miss Blue-Saint Blue Farm (Chacco-Blue x VDL Zirocco Blue) galloped to victory in the CSIO5* 1.60m Rolex Grand Prix of Rome in Piazza di Siena, Italy. 

The pair produced some real magic to pin Ireland’s Cian O’Connor and Iron Man (Charisma Z x Mr Blue) into runner-up spot in a thrilling 12-way second round that left spectators on the edges of their seats to the very end.

It was a day for the young stars to shine: 25-year-old French Nina Mallevaey finished third with Dynastie de Beaufour (Diamant de Semilly x Cassini II), while 22-year-old Irish Seamus Hughes Kennedy lined up in fourth with ESI Rocky (Stakkato Gold x For Pleasure).

Three four-faulters qualified for round two including Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei (Baltic VDL x Corland), who went clear second time out to set the early standard in 36.39 seconds. Hughes Kennedy set a whole new target with his second clear of the day in 36.78 seconds with the 10-year-old ESI Rocky who carried him to team and individual gold at the European Young Riders Championship in 2023, before his considerably more experience compatriot O’Connor overtook him with a great round from Iron Man in 35.76 seconds. Mallevaey, recently crowned French Champion, followed with her foot-perfect run in 36.35. However, it would be Mansur, third-last to go, who would relegate them all with a ride full of confidence that saw his mare through the timers in 35.65 for the win.

Mansur was very proud of Miss Blue, his partner at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. “This is a mare from Brazil, she didn’t have any experience when she left there but in three years since 2022 she has given me my best wins. And I feel it’s just the beginning, we’ve had some bad luck with health problems but now she is good again and she is doing an unbelievable job," said the 46-year-old rider who hails from Sao Paulo and whose own rise in the sport has been something special.

Second-placed O’Connor, who took the Master d’Inzeo Award as leading rider of the show, was delighted with his horse Iron Man. “He’s very special, he has a huge canter and a huge heart but he’s quite sensitive about everything. I started to ride him last September and it took me a while to get used to him. We probably didn’t click straight away. Even at the start of this year in Florida we had some rounds where we didn’t quite know each other, so I dropped him right back down to small classes, like 1.30m, and I built him back up. And the last six Grand Prix classes he’s jumped in a row he’s been double-clear. He hasn’t much experience against the clock and he’s such an expressive jumper, he’s not maybe as quick as some of the others because he takes his time at his fences but that’s something we’re working on. Maybe we’ll catch this fellow (Mansur) in Aachen," he added with a grin.

Malleavey is super-talented, and today she was quietly enjoying her arrival at the centre stage of international showjumping. She has had an extraordinary run of form over the past year and more. “I’m really enjoying this time. I have amazing support, I have a huge team that does a lot for me and it’s all thanks to them," said the young lady who began her career under the tutelage of French Olympian Julien Epaillard and who is now under the guidance of Helena Stormanns – and looks to have a spectacular career ahead of her.

“Today I was just hoping to be clear," she said modestly. “I know I have an amazing horse that is really generous. We did our first 5* Grand Prix about a year ago and I think we have built a great relationship together. It’s my first time here in Rome and since the beginning of the week she’s been enjoying that arena and loving to be here. This was a dream of mine to come here so I’m very, very happy," she added. And she may well be hoping to compete at the next leg of the Rolex Series which will take place at La Baule in France on 8 June.

Mansur meanwhile has now become only the second Brazilian rider to place his name on the Roll of Honour of the prestigious Grand Prix of Rome, following Rodrigo Pessoa who came out on top with Let’s Fly in 2009.

The Rolex Grand Prix of Rome is part of the Rolex Series, which unites six Rolex-shows – CSIO Rome, the CSIO Jumping International de La Baule, the Jumping International de Dinard, the Dublin Horse Show, the Brussels Stephex Masters, and the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, USA