Switzerland’s Niklaus Rutschi was bursting with pride after winning this morning’s Samsung Accumulator to get the final day of CSIO Rome - Masters d’Inzeo 2018 underway. And it was no surprise that he was happy because he recorded this victory with a mare with which he has had a rocky relationship.

The lovely 11-year-old grey, Carassina, has a little too much of a mind of her own according to the 52-year-old who was part of the Swiss team that finished joint-second in Friday’s Intesa Sanpaolo Nations Cup.

“I have her for a while and we have had a lot of problems together so I thought now we are in Rome, on the last day we take the risk and we try to win, so I’m happy!” he joked. “She’s only nine and she’s a real Swiss like me. The owner bred her and she came to my stable as a 7-year-old but it has not been easy. She didn’t like the way I wanted her to do things and I didn’t want to accept the way she did things either so we’ve had to make a compromise, and that’s why I’m really happy that it worked today. It was never the plan that she would come to Rome and then she wins - so it’s fantastic!” he added.

Great little speed horse

It was New Zealand’s Samantha McIntosh who lined up second with the 14-year-old Estina. “I’ve had her for seven years and she’s a great little speed horse. She’s exceptionally consistent so I thought I’d have a good crack at it!” she said. She was very pleased with the performance of the New Zealand team in the Nations Cup because “it has given some of the horses and riders a chance to practice for Championship competition, competing against so many of the best in the world.”

Meanwhile Rutschi reflected on the performance of his horse, Cardano CH, in the Nations Cup. “In the first round he jumped amazing, in the second round he should have had a better rider so he could be double clear, so we had a little four faults but I’m very proud of him!”, he pointed out.

He heads into this afternoon’s Rolex Grand Prix with his top ride Cardano. “He’s also a Swiss horse and I have him since he was a foal so riding him is always special”, he added.  PhCsioRoma-MGrassia

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