Course designer Uliano Vezzani has been responsible for some masterly examples of his craft at other GCT shows in the past but in today’s class, the Premio Banca SAI, his course was rather too forgiving. There is plenty of room in the spacious outdoor sand arena at La Mandria’s International Equestrian Centre to be as technical as anyone could wish but when 23 of 55 starters are clear in the first round it is fair to say he could have done a bit more to test them.
The first rider in the jump off was Gianni Govoni riding Joyau Opal. The chestnut who makes his likes and dislikes rather obvious, clearly is keen on Turin. Giani set off as if he was riding for Gold at the Olympic Games and rode some fantastic turns into the second and fourth fences, the latter at such an angle it was almost impossible to believe that he was jumping a 1.45m spread and not a 50cm training fence! The long gallop to the last was made for the Italian, winner of many GCT speed classes in the past, who galloped flat out at the final vertical and crossed the line in 38.68. That must have been a little disconcerting for the other 22 who must have known immediately they were all working for second place!
Kevin Staut made a good attempt on Major de Coquerie, a horse he has only had a few months. His time of 41.58, although pedestrian in comparison, was good enough to hold onto second for quite a while. It was Alvaro de Miranda Neto who bettered it on AD Norsen and actually nearly caught Gianni with 38.99. Juan Carlos Garcia was second last to go and just got in front of Kevin to take third but this was a case of Gianni, first, the rest nowhere!
Tommorow there will be a speed class in the morning which will be followed by the Grand Prix of Italy. ~ Lulu Kyriacou, GCT Press Agent.
Results
Class 3. Premio Banca SAI
1. Gianni Govoni (ITA) Joyau Opal, 0,0, 38.68
2. Alvaro De Miranda Neto (BRA) AD Norson, 0,0, 38.99
3. Juan Carlos Garcia (ITA) Moka de Mescan, 0,0, 41.26
4. Kevin Staut (FRA) Major de Coquerie, 0,0, 41.58
Quotes
Gianni Govoni – “As I was first to go and there were so many after, I knew I would have to be fast and so I did go even faster than usual! But this horse is actually faster over this sort of track than Love Affair (Gianni’s main speed horse) because it was not so twisting and he could really use his stride.”
Kevin Staut – “I have not had this horse for very long and I think he will be a top level horse but this is his first time at show of this calibre and I was hoping for some good placings to give the horse confidence. And when I saw Gianni go and his time, I knew I could not beat that anyway!”
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