Germany will be first into the ring once again when the second leg of the 2007 Samsung Super League with FEI series kicks off at the new-look Piazza di Siena in Rome tomorrow afternoon.

Being first to go is not usually the preference for any chef d'equipe, but his team recorded a superb victory in the opening leg at La Baule in France two weeks ago when they were also pathfinders around the course, and Germany's Sonke Sonkssen was looking quietly confident this afternoon despite his side getting the worst of the draw.

The home team from Italy are guests on their home turf so nine nations will line out, and the order-of-go is as follows:

1. Germany
2. Sweden
3. Belgium
4. The Netherlands
5. Italy
6. Great Britain
7. France
8. Switzerland
9. USA

Cesare Croce, President of the Italian Federation (FISE) talked a little about the challenge presented to the organizing committee in improving the footing in the venerated Piazza di Siena arena. "It has not been easy to get permission from the city authorities to undertake these improvements, but we are glad we have been able to make everyone happy," he said, and the team managers expressed their gratitude.

In the long history of show jumping in Rome, the natural amphitheatre in the Villa Borghese, which is a large public park, has always been grass, but there had been increasing concern about grounds conditions in recent years. In a brave new move, however, the show organizers brought in Luca Rovere from the footing management company Equitera who has put down a special sand mix, and it has received a very definite "thumbs up" from the riders and horses. It has been an expensive exercise but is sure to reinforce the future of this world-famous event.

"It is a special French sand mixed with polyester," explained Show Director Marco Danesi. "There are inter-linked rubber mats lying on the grass and then this is covered with the sand mixture to a depth of about 14 centimeters," he pointed out. It took 12 days to lay the new surface, and the Rome organizers have also paid attention to improving conditions for the horses, with a new cooling system in the bigger stables and a better training area.

"We have all the elements in place here now for a great show" said FEI Commercial Director Christoph Troendle while Roberto Trangoni, Senior Manager for Samsung in Italy, wished the competitors "a good, fair competition."

The German and American teams were most favored to come out on top tomorrow afternoon when the team manager's offered their opinions—"the Germans are in a class of their own," insisted U.S. Chef d'Equipe George Morris, "but historically, France has a great record here in Rome, I think if I am being optimistic, I would suggest the USA will finish third tomorrow," he added.

They will certainly want to do better than they did in La Baule when finishing just ahead of Great Britain at the bottom of the order. In the Samsung Super League with FEI series, the excitement is as much about what is happening between the teams trying to avoid relegation as it is about the brilliance of the winning sides. Round Two of the 2007 series promises to be quite revealing.

Samsung Super League with FEI Leaderboard After Round 1 at La Baule, France
1. Germany - 10 points
2. Switzerland - 7 points
3. Belgium - 5 points
4. Sweden - 4 points
5. France - 3 points
6. Netherlands - 2 points
7. USA - 1 point
8. Great Britain - 0.5 points

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