Only fractions of a second separated the leading combinations in the CSI5* Prix du Département des Alpes Maritimes in Cannes. In the 1.45m Longines Ranking class, Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano ultimately emerged on top aboard Vasco 118, while Henrik von Eckermann, Giacomo Casadei, Sanne Thijssen and Koen Vereecke rounded out a highly competitive top five.
Emanuele Gaudiano secured victory in the CSI5* 1.45m speed class aboard Vasco 118 (Vivant). The Italian rider delivered a flawless round in 52.82 seconds, proving just quick enough to hold off a world-class field in the Longines Ranking competition.
Second place went to world number one Henrik von Eckermann. Riding Iliana (Cardento), the Swedish star also produced a faultless performance and crossed the finish line in 53.24 seconds, finishing less than half a second behind the winner.
Italy celebrated another podium finish thanks to Giacomo Casadei and the BWP mare Raffinesse (Vigo d'Arsouilles). The pair stopped the clock in 55.69 seconds to secure third place and complete the podium.
Just outside the top three, Dutch rider Sanne Thijssen showcased her speed aboard Farah Z (For Pleasure). The combination delivered a clear round in 55.83 seconds, missing out on a podium place by only fourteen hundredths of a second.
Belgium’s Koen Vereecke completed the top five with the BWP mare Merryweather vt Leeuwerikenhof (Emerald). The pair produced another faultless effort and finished in 55.92 seconds, only nine hundredths of a second behind Thijssen.
