Watch: The Trick to Winning a CSI 5* by Half a Second

Jerome Guery edged Alberto Zorzi in the LGCT Grand Prix of Miami by a half second on Saturday night, and now we’ve got the side-by-side comparison to see just how he did it.

His first rollback was his saving grace, as Jerome and Grand Cru van de Rozenberg were turning left in the air and never let up. Alberto has a phenomenal pass down the long side near the ocean that almost brings him even to Jerome, but the final line couldn’t be topped as Jerome’s blue-eyed studmuffin makes quick work of the last bending 13 strides to the finish wire.

Jerome said of his horse and the win: “My horse today was amazing, he jumped the qualification clear and the Grand Prix was clear in the first round. I have a little bit of an advantage in the jump off as I was the last to go. I saw the other riders had three clear, and they were fast but not crazy fast. I tried to go a little bit faster – my horse listened to me perfectly and it was an amazing day for me today. Fast is fast!”

Jerome was clearly not heartbroken to leave with the red ribbon in hand, either. “[Cornetto] is an amazing horse. I want to say thank you to Jan (Topps, LGCT organizer) for giving me this super opportunity and thank you to all of my staff – they work a lot for me. My horse jumps three rounds very good, I’m so happy.”

The next Longines Global Champions Tour stop will be in Shanghai in two weeks. You know where you can find all the deets – right here at Jumper Nation!