Rome, Italy - Top sport is guaranteed in tomorrow’s Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ presented by Longines, with many of the eight competing nations fielding potential Olympic horse-and-rider combinations. With just over two months to go to the start of the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, it’s decision-making time for the national federations and their team managers, and many of those who will take on Uliano Vezzani’s course when the action gets underway at 15.45 local time tomorrow afternoon will be determined to confirm their Olympic credentials.

The defending Olympic champions from Great Britain, represented by living legends John and Michael Whitaker along with Ben Maher and their new young star, Jessica Mendoza, will be sure to come out with all guns blazing on the hallowed turf at Piazza di Siena....read more

Gaudiano to Lead Italian Team after Rapid Recovery from Injury
Emanuele Gaudiano knows he’s a lucky man to be leading the Italian team into the ring at Piazza di Siena for tomorrow’s Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ presented by Longines. A broken collarbone, sustained while competing at Valkenswaard in The Netherlands two weeks ago, could easily have left him sidelined for several months. “But the doctors did an amazing job, I had an operation right away at a hospital in Bonn, Germany, and I’m feeling really good again!” said the rider who will turn 30 at the end of next month.It was in the jump-off of the 2-Star Grand Prix at Valkenswaard that he took a nasty fall from Carlotta. “She is only a seven-year-old and we were clear in the first round and I took a long distance at the first fence....read more

Staut Steals the Honours in Last Class on Opening Day
Frenchman Kevin Staut brought the opening day of action at Piazza di Siena to a close with a whirlwind ride in the Intesa Sanpaolo Speed competition. Partnering the 12-year-old Belgian bred mare Elky van Het Indihof HDC, the 35-year-old rider was 17th to go in the 55-strong field. And despite their best efforts the rest simply couldn’t catch them.

It was a good day for the mares today, with Eric Lamaze finishing second with the aptly-named 13-year-old Fine Lady. And Italian spectators enjoyed watching the 11-year-old gelding Admara carry Colombia’s Rene Lopez into third spot....read more

Ward Tops World-Class Line-Up with Carlos Z
The American national anthem rang out across Piazza di Siena this afternoon when McLain Ward scorched home to win the 1.50m Jump-Off with HH Carlos Z. With 15 clears in the first round this was always going to be a difficult one to clinch, and the final standings boasted a list of competitors out of the very top drawer of the sport.

Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca filled runner-up position with Balou de Coeur Joye while world no. 1 rider, Simon Delestre from France, slotted into third with Utah D’Alguilly. Belgium’s Francois Mathy Jr steered Casanova de L'Herse into fourth while World and European individual and team gold medallist, Jeroen Dubbeldam, finished fifth with Carusso la Silla....read more

Youth Wins Through in Young Horse Challenge
An Italian rider stole the show for the second time today when Guido Franchi, at 17 years of age the youngest rider at the event, steered D’Extra Hedoniste to victory in the Young Horse Challenge.
And the young man from Siena did it in convincing fashion, his time of 62.35 giving him more than five seconds of an advantage over German runner-up Marcel Marschall riding Crystal 17.

Third spot went to World and European team gold medallist Jur Vrieling from The Netherlands with Qualify FZ, and the winner had every reason to be pleased with his result....read more

Govoni Gets Italy off to a Great Start
Italian veteran, Gianni Govoni, galloped to victory with Bobolensky in the opening Two-Phase competition at the Intesa SanPaolo Piazza di Siena Master Fratelli d’Inzeo
this morning. The 49-year-old double-Olympian left a star-studded cast in his wake, finishing more than a half-second quicker than Germany’s Marcus Ehning and Singular la Silla while Ireland’s Billy Twomey raced through the timers to take third spot with Ardcolum Duke. With 63 starters in this class it was never going to be an easy one to win....read more

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