McLain Ward and HH Azur won the Loro Piana Grand Prix (Stefano Secchi)

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.

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