Finally! Lorenzo de Luca Clinches First LGCT Grand Prix Win

May 1, 2017

Lorenzo de Luca on Ensor de Litrange LXII. PC: Stefano Grasso/LGCT

Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) rocketed to the top of the LGCT Rankings, after a stunning Grand Prix win at the Shanghai Longines Global Champions Tour today – his debut victory on the Tour. (He has won other LGCT classes leading up to the LGCT Grand Prix, but never the capstone class itself.)

The Italian star has collected a tally of 100 points overall, knocking Martin Fuchs (SUI) from the lead and revving up the Championship fight. Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) has shot up to second, with another podium contributing to his score of 89 points. Scott Brash’s (GBR) solid consistency throughout the first three legs of the season was rewarded with a jump up to third place, where he sits on 75 points.

“It is my first year on the Global and I have a super group of horses at the moment,” said Lorenzo following his win. “They are doing very good. I am really happy to do the Global Champions Tour and Global Champions League, they are fantastic shows. My horse (Ensor de Litrange) is 13 years old and is fantastic, so [scopey] and so careful and really wants to win when he goes in the ring.”

Course designer Uliano Vezzani put together a true test for the world’s best with 25 riders qualified and ready to take on the formidable Grand Prix. The time allowed was tight, with many riders coming in too deep to fences as they picked up a galloping pace, resulting in poles falling all over the field.

First to go clear was Dutch star Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) after top stallion VDL Groep Verdi TN N.O.P. jumped a beautiful round. He was shortly followed by Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) with the mighty Ensor de Litrange LXII who kept the crowd on the edge of their seats as they flew around the arena in a precision perfect round. Gregory Wathelet (BEL) and grey 11 year old mare Coree joined him after a stunning clear, meaning there would be a jump-off, with spectators keen to see who would join them.

Jack Hardin Towell and Lucifer V looked strong to go through, until getting caught out in the middle of the Longines combination and rattling a rail along the way. Marcus Ehning (GER) took a turn back too tight fairly early on, conscious of the limiting time factor, rolling a pole with Funky Fred to pick up four faults. Another fence down as they pushed to be the fastest of the four faulters put the popular pair on a score of eight, dropping them right down the order and eliminating them from progressing to the jump-off.

In-form Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Charly Chaplin S look to be on a phenomenal roll, jumping the class neatly and in careful style. Spectators around the world held their breath as the pair galloped to the final fence, where they just clipped a pole on the Longines oxer; the crowd groaning in disappointment. While they were strong on time, the careful horse just unfolded too quickly, taking the back pole as they went and knocking the Irish rider out of the running.

Ben Maher (GBR) also had a shock exit after Don Vito took another look at the liverpool oxer, with the pair crashing through the fence and electing to retire after popping the vertical. GCL teammate Kent Farrington and Creedance came in a little too deep to the red and white oxer, taking out the front pole as the fiery chestnut flew around. Kent also retired, saving Creedance for the final competition on Sunday.

Italian hopes were doubled as Alberto Zorzi (ITA) put in a foot-perfect round with Fair Light van’t Heike and breezed through to the final part of the competition.

Previous class winner Bosty had a rail down coming into the Longines combination, and a rail out. The poles then began to fall, until the French rider retired, with Qoud’Coeur de la Loge calling it a day, and leaving just four in the jump-off.

First to go Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) had everything to do as the sun began its descent over the iconic red China Art Palace. Setting off at a gallop the pair rode a beautiful clear, stopping the clock at 39.36s and throwing down the gauntlet to the rest of the riders to come.

Italian star Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) and Ensor de Litrange LXII were next to go, with Lorenzo setting off at a pace with the big striding horse eating up the ground and the Italian talent allowing his horse to open up between the distances. Shaving corners and cutting back beautifully to the fences, the pair rocketed to the lead with a time of 38.05s.

Gregory Wathelet (BEL) and Coree came a little too deep to the Longines double, with the grey hanging in the air on the way out of the oxer and dropping a front leg to finish on four faults. But it was last to go, Alberto Zorzi (ITA) who had all the pressure, and the crowd watched to see who would be crowned the victor.

The pair set off like a machine, but had the first part of the Longines double down, putting them in third position and meaning compatriot Lorenzo de Luca would take his debut Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix win.