Roberto Rotatori chats to HSJ

The rider from Milan is coming off an historic fourth place in the CIC4* at the Badminton Horse Trials. The 41-year-old spoke to HSJ about his satisfaction and how he had been building up to appearing in England for the first time following the Olympic Games in Beijing.He said: “I knew I had to work hard and felt fine. The horse was in excellent shape but anything can happen in an event.“I made a few mistakes but coming fourth was a surprise as it was a very high level of competition but it demonstrated that the work I put in paid off and Irham put in a good performance.”Rotatori believes that Italian riders are putting on a competitive show abroad and the recent results at the Olympics as well as other events have been a demonstration of this progress.“We had five riders who put their names forward for Badminton and all five were accepted,” he revealed. “No one had to go on to the waiting list and so we have taken another step forward.”Oliver Townend was the overall winner at Badminton and Rotatori accepted that Britain was very strong in Eventing but lamented that there were fewer events than there used to be in Italy.“Today, there is only the Riding Club at Casorate Sempione and Vairano,” he said. “They are both excellent organisations and geared up to an international level. Personally, I have been fortunate that my main sponsor Malaspina have believed in me and my project.”As for the future, there is Aachen in July and then the Europeans in Fontambleau.“Hopefully, I will do well,” maintained the ever-positive Rotatori.