Rome, Italy – McLain Ward and HH Azur outcompeted a field of 50 combinations, and went double-clear, to win the Loro Piana Grand Prix at CSIO5* Rome on Sunday. Only 13 combinations advanced to the jump-off, which included Americans Laura Kraut and Kent Farrington.
McLain Ward and HH Azur won the Loro Piana Grand Prix (Stefano Secchi)
Seven combinations, including Kraut (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) with Old Willow Farms, LLC’s Zeremonie, posted a clear first round over Uilano Vezzani’s challenging course. Farrington (Wellington, Fla.), with Amalaya Investments’ Voyeur, nearly had a clear round, but had a rail down at the last fence for four faults.
Ward (Brewster, N.Y), with Double H Farm and Francois Mathy's HH Azur, posted the fastest time out of the 13 combinations advancing to the jump-off at 40.45. He and HH Azur edged out Sweden’s Peder Fredricson and H&M All in by over two seconds. Kraut and Zeremonie went double-clear to place third. Farrington and Voyeur also went clear in the jump-off to place fifth.
This is Ward and HH Azur’s second Grand Prix victory this year. They won the $380,000 Suncast® Grand Prix CSI5* during week seven of the Winter Equestrian Festival in February.
Complete Results