Kevin Staut scored the second French victory of the week with a superb run that stole pole position from longtime leader, Germany’s Daniel Deusser, in the Aston Martin Speed class at CSIO Rome - Master d’Inzeo 2024 at Piazza di Siena this afternoon.

Deusser set the pace in 63.07 seconds with a superb run from Bingo Ste Hermelle when 13th to go of the 52 starters and proved very difficult to catch as Uliano Vezzani’s course tested the rideability of the horses and judgement of the riders over his 12-fence track that stood at 1.55m.

The three doubles on the course took their toll, and it was the penultimate double that saw early-morning winner, Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano, eliminated for a fall when Julius D threw in a sudden stop. The white Hickstead rails at fence seven also caught some horses unawares including Steve Guerdat’s Lancelotta who couldn’t work out what to do with them at first time of asking. But, quietly settling the 10-year-old mare, the reigning individual European champion asked her again once the fence was reinstated and she produced a copybook run from there to the end of the course for her Swiss rider.

Eliminations

It seemed Eugenio Garza Perez had gone out in front when he brought Chalouries PS through the finish in 60.23 seconds without touching a pole, but it turned out the Mexican pair had not jumped the vertical at fence nine so they joined the list of eliminations that also included another Italian star, Piergiorgio Bucci, who parted company with Hantano who stopped earlier in the competiiton.

But there was no stopping Staut’s Beau de Laubry Z who seemed under no pressure at all when stepping ahead of the rest when eighth-last to go. The clock showed the only under-60-second time of 59.68 and that would not be bettered.

Italy’s Alberto Zorzi clinched third with Cortez Van'T Klein Asdonk Z while Staut’s compatriot Emeric George who opened this latest edition of CSIO Rome with a win yesterday slotted into fourth with Calisco de Terlong.

Staut said it is a different feeling for him at Piazza di Siena this year. “It’s really special for me because it’s the first year I come without being in a team in the big Nations Cup, so I know I have to qualify (for the Grand Prix) through other competitions like this and to find the extra motivation. For the past years I would always be focused on the Nations Cup so maybe it proves that we need to focus on every competition because I was just focused on this one this year and it worked quite well!”

The rules ensure that the best 12 riders entitled to qualify for the Grand Prix and not competing in this afternoon’s Nations Cup from this class.

Different feeling

“It’s a different feeling but I have more time to discover everything around this show with these fantastic facilities, more time for me to ride my horses and enjoy it”, he continued. “I really appreciate it’s not too warm this year because normally I am struggling with that. I didn’t know how I’d live this week without the Nations Cup but I still really appreciate to be here and to win. We have to show these type of shows to the rest of the world because it is what is best for the sport, every single competition is a big fight between the competitors to put their name somewhere in Piazza di Siena!”, he added.

And talking about his horse Beau de Laubry he said, “he is on the shortlist for the Olympics but still needs to get experience. I went to the indoor season and then outdoor I went to Ocala (USA). I did a few Nations Cup, this year I’m here as an individual but still I have to find every small detail to be better with this horse. He’s really careful, really fast as we saw today, very competitive but he’s a big horse, a bit stiff and I say that in a good way because I love stiff horses!

“But from my point of view as a rider I have to be better in my own balance with my own connection with my horse so it’s why I use also this kind of competition, not to hide myself and not to make a training round, because I need to reach the highest level with this horse so I’m taking every opportunity at every show to improve everything with him”, he explained.

“Beau will now jump the Small Grand Prix tomorrow and I have another mare Visconti who will jump the Grand Prix on Sunday”, he added.