Italian stalwart, 36-year-old Emanuele Gaudiano, scorched to victory in the Telepass Accumulator to get the second day of competition off to the perfect start for the host nation at the CSIO Rome - Master d’Inzeo 2024 at Piazza di Siena this morning.

Starting 28th of the 33 competitors, the Rio 2016 Olympian had plenty of time to weigh up the opposition and set his course with determination, bringing the 10-year-old grey gelding Jaja home in the winning time of 46.91.

Two rides later young British star, 24-year-old Joe Stockdale, came closest to catching him when breaking the beam in 48.44 seconds with the 14-year-old gelding Equine Rescue Services Kandleford while Belgium’s Zoe Conter, who was runner-up with Tombola Z in last night’s ENI Speed, slotted into third with the 13-year-old mare Lazy who certainly didn’t live up to her name.

Italy’s Massimo Grossato finished fourth with Legend, the United Arab Emirates Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi lined up in fifth with Coenig and Germany’s Mario Stevens, who has been consistently in the prizes this week, was sixth with Cornet de Semilly.

Gaudiano has competed at CSIO Rome many times and this was his eleventh victory at Piazza di Siena.

He described the Dutch-bred Jaja (Zirocco Blue/Baloubet du Rouet) as “a very fast horse that I hope will make it up to Grand Prix level”.