America’s McLain Ward threw down a super-confident victory in the Loro Piana Grand Prix at Piazza di Siena with HH Azur. On form all week and looking competitive from the outset in the grand prix, he produced one of just seven clear rounds over Uliano Vezzani’s tough first-round track and then showed a spectacular turn of foot in the second round to clinch it.

In a competition filled with drama and surprises, it was Sweden’s Peder Fredricsson who lined up second with H&M All In, while Ward’s compatriot, Laura Kraut, clinched third spot with Zeremonie.

Ward gave his barn manager ond right-hand man Lee McKeever a big hug after winning the Loro Piana Grand Prix of Rome as groom Kirsty held the “incredible” HH Azur. Photo by Tiffany van Halle

HH Azur and McLain Ward on their way to the top of the Loro Piana Grand Prix of Rome. Photo by Tiffany van Halle

Fredricsson posted the first clear of the competition with his 10-year-old stallion on a day when the 13-fence course defeated many other top horse-and-rider combinations. The bogey fence of the day was the liverpool vertical that followed the open water, but amongst the many who didn’t make the cut as the top-13 returned in the second round were some of the firm favorites.

Peder Fredricson and H&M All In, who finished second. Photo by Tiffany van Halle

World and European double-gold medalist, The Netherlands’ Jeroen Dubbeldam, retired when his top horse, Zenith, had two fences down on a very lackluster tour of the track. Vezzani tested the rider’s judgment every step of the way, with the line from the white plank at fence six to the following triple combination of oxer to vertical to oxer also taking a heavy toll. But for some it was the penultime double of skinny plank verticals that proved their undoing with home in sight.

Ward’s winning run was sixth from the end of the competition and his time of 40.45 seconds looked near impossible to beat. Dutchman Jur Vrieling and Zirocco Blue faulted this time out at the big final oxer but Kraut had every reason to be pleased when clear in 45.39 seconds.

Laura Kraut on Zeremonie, third in the Loro Piana Grand Prix of Rome. Photo by Tiffany van Halle

Laura Kraut took a quiet moment with Zeremonie during the awards ceremony. Photo by Tiffany van Halle

Fredricsson however broke the beam in 42.05 to slot in behind Ward.

A nasty fall for the penultimate partnership of Marco Kutscher and Van Gogh brought the competition to a temporary halt. The German rider left the ring by ambulance with a suspected shoulder and back injury, and, last man in, World No. 1 rider Simon Delestre from France had a 15-minute delay before he could take his turn with the brilliant little Hermes Ryan.

France’s Simon Delestre on Hermes Ryan, who took sixth. Photo by Tiffany van Halle

A pole down put paid to their chances however and he had to settle for sixth spot behind U.S. rider Kent Farrington in fifth and German star, Marcus Ehning, in fourth with Cornado.

Kent Farrington and Voyeur, fifth in the Loro Piana Grand Prix of Rome. Photo by Tiffany van Halle

Voyeur, or “Froggy,” is well known for his alert outlook on life, and at Rome he took it all in while groom Denise Moriarty held on. Photo by Tiffany van Halle

A delighted Ward said afterward, “This was not the best round I’ve ever done but the horse makes up for my mistakes and I’m very happy!

“She jumped incredible, while I could have done better! There were a few points where I was unsure and she just knew what had to be done. Sometimes this happens and that’s when you know a horse like this makes the difference. I think it’s a dream to ride a horse like this, she’s phenomenal.”

McLain Ward and HH Azur on their victory gallop. Photo by Tiffany van Halle

 
Marcus Ehning took fourth place for Germany on Coronado NRW. Photo by Tiffany van Halle

Marcus Ehning on Coronado NRW. Photo by Tiffany van Halle

VDL Groep Verdi waiting to jump. Photo by Tiffany van Halle

Maikel van Der Vleuten and VDL Groep Verdi TN N.O.P. jumped to seventh. Photo by Tiffany van Halle