News

Cassio clocks up another speedy win at GCT Monaco

Jul 1, 2012

Triumphant Cassio Rivetti blasted away the oppositionin the warm up speed class ahead of tonight's Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Monaco.

The Ukraine rider was extra fast over the last combination gaining time and finishing in 51.06 on his impressive bay stallion Bockmanns Lazio. Speaking after the victory, his second at this Monaco show, Cassio said: "I won a little bit of time with the last combination. I did it in five strides, the other riders did it in six. On the opening day here in Monaco and now today my horse is in super form and this super horse makes my job much easier."

British rider Ben Maher had been in the lead after a blistering round by his lively eight-year-old chestnut gelding Aristo Z in the 1m45-1m50 Prix Sapinda Capital against the clock. Ben, third in the GCT ranking, managed a really tight turn into the fifth fence, the GCT upright, and finished in 52.13 adding another successful competition to his tally this weekend.

Irish rider Billy Twomey, on the experienced chestnut stallion Romanov, was in determined mood but was just slower over the last two fences and finished a whisker behind Ben on 52.44. Billy said: "I was a little bit slower over the first three fences."

French rider Kevin Staut, who finished fifth on his young horse Uchin van de Centaur said: "I have quite a young horse. I had my own course to do today, so I could not be in the top three."

Several riders came unstuck at the HSBC double combination with Michel Robert and Lauren Hough among those who knocked down a rail. Some of the top speed riders including Sergio Alvarez Moya and Roger-Yves Bost set off at a furious pace, but ended up on four faults.

Source: Pressrelease from Global Champions Tour.