At the first day of the Longines Masters in Los Angeles a total of 53 combinations took the start in the opening CSI5* class. It was however Europe's speed devil, Emanuele Gaudiano who set the record time, speeding to victory. Gaudiano rode Guess 6 (ex. Guess ter Wilgen) to the win in 66.26 seconds over Steve Guerdat, who finished 2nd with Concetto Son in 67.42 seconds. True, many riders used the $9,120.00 KTLA Trophy as a warm up, riding both their horses over the single round track set by Uliano Vezzani. But as soon as Guadiano took a bold slice off the oxer at fence two, it was clear that he meant business and he continued on his way directly to the top of the order. Patrice Delaveau and Leontine Ledimar HDC finished 3rd, while the USA’s Richard Spooner was 4th with Chivas Z. Ireland rounded out the top five, with Denis Lynch riding Ho Go van de Padenborre completing a clear round. In all, 14 pairs jumped without fault, and another 10 picked up only time faults. The fact that half the class didn’t touch a rail is indicative of the quality that has gathered in the United States for California’s only CSI5*-rated competition. At a new and improved venue in its third year of operation, the Longines Masters of Los Angeles has taken a step up. No rider seems to mind that the competition is no longer at its former location, in the middle of downtown Los Angeles—especially when the Pacific Ocean is within sight of the warm up area and the walk to it is dotted by palm trees. Stay tuned for more to come from Los Angeles throughout the weekend.
