LGCT Press Release :
Portugal's Luciana Diniz threw down the gauntlet to Longines Global Champions Tour ranking leader Scott Brash today in the battle for the championship.
Luciana is only 10 points behind Scott in the overall ranking and could overtake the British rider in tomorrow's Grand Prix presented by H&M at the big Hamburg Derby show ground.
Luciana Diniz set off like a rocket on the nine year old Sakann to win this afternoon’s CSI5* class by almost two seconds. Italy’s Andre Sakakini set a good early pace over Frank Rothenburger’s forward flowing course clocking a time of 60.03 seconds.
There were a host of clears to follow, but none to match Andre’s time until Luciana’s winning round towards the end of the class. With plenty of ground to cover between the fences in Hamburg’s large Derby arena, Luciana meant business, galloping on and turning tightly aboard the nimble Sakkan to finish on a time of 58.43.
After the prize giving Luciana said: "It was so inspiring today. My son called me and said Mama I just won my tennis game and now you win this class. And I said I am going to win for you. It is always good to win before the Grand Prix."
Luciana will be riding her star grey stallion, Winningmood, recent winner of the Grand Prix at the Longines Global Champions Tour of Madrid, in tomorrow’s feature, the Longines Global Champions Tour of Hamburg Grand Prix presented by H&M.
Luciana has been a solid performer in the Longines Global Champions Tour overall ranking for the past few season finishing 9th last year and 7th in 2013.
Scott will be riding his Olympic gold medal winning champion and World No1 horse Hello Sanctos and will be determined to hold on to his overall ranking lead.
Photo ©Equnews.de
