Jumping Verona gets going with good Italian showing

Here are the results of the first event in Verona where the BMW Pala Sony prize got things going with the 1m45 where Juan Carlos Garcia won on Moka de Mescam, the Azzurri rider closed in 54.26 seconds.Second was the young German talent Marcel Marshall on Cassius van de Smis  in 55 seconds, ahead of another Italian Gianni Govoni on the nine-year-old Italian mount Larbraker.The second event of the day went to the Belgian Olivier Philippaerts, who won the Kask Prize on Ustina Sitte.
Forty-one riders took part over the 1.50m fences and the winner came in at 56.20 seconds ahead of Ireland’s Billy Twomey on Ardcolumn Duke, while the Swiss Janika Sprunger on Aris CMS was third, with Lorenzo De Luca on Balou de Cour Joye in an excellent fifth.De Luca then announced that he would take part in the Fei World Cup on Limestone Grey, while Philippaerts would be on Legends of Love for what was the most important  event of the weekend.The prestigious Prestige Prize was won by Rio 2016 Olympic champion Kevin Staut on Ayade de Septon HDC ahead of the field that started with 45 riders but was whittled down to 16 for the final round.Italy’s De Luca on Limestone Grey was leading after going out second until Staut took over; completing a double clear round of 36.39 seconds to 35.53 from the French rider, proving he is the Azzurri’s most in-form competitor.There was a positive third place for Gianni Govoni on Antonio who is proving his form too.The novelty of Verona 2016 was the CSIU 25 Riders Academy which started yesterday with a win for Francesca Arioldi on Loro Piana Celtic which demonstrates the growing number of young Italians on the up.
Second was the American Emily Moffitt and It’s Real Love vd Smis Z and third Federico Ciriesi on Cassandra, while another Italian was in fifth: Filippo Bassan on Bupina.The Verona event continues at 15.00 with the Piccolo Gran Premio followed  by a presentation by the Cavalleria Toscana, while the main event the Longines Fei World Cup takes place tomorrow.
Photo: Stefano Grasso.Jumping Verona press release