He's securing one after an other international victory since autumn last year. The Italian show jumper Emanuele Gaudiano jumped in the spotlights and collected some important trophees the last months. Time for us to have a little chat with this legend in the making.

Last year (2015) you have proven once more you truly belong on the top international stage taking many class victories home at major events, how do you look back on 2015? And what might have been your best moment/victory?

2015 was a positive year for me, my horses and team. Looking back at this year I'm very proud and grateful to all of them, we gained quite a few victories in various prestigious shows. My favourite one of 2015 has been the victory in the World Cup GP in London Olympia in December with Admara: it was a big challenge but Admara did not let me down Emanuele_Gaudiano_equnews

At the end of the year you had this fabulous victory with Admara at the WC in London, and just a few weeks later she got sold to Carlos Lopez. What made you decide to ‘give up’ Admara? Were you not (maybe) hoping to go to the Olympics with her?

After having Admara performing so well I received various offers for him and one very good one was from Carlos Lopez. While considering the offer I assigned part of Admara's ownership to him because of the coming up of the deadline for the Olympic Games. Eventually Admara was sold to Carlos Lopez just at the beginning of last week. Admara is a super horse but if there's a chance to go to the Olympics I was already evaluating between another couple of horses I have which are more adequate for the event for me.  

Talking about the Olympics, the Italian team just found a new Ched d’Equipe in Henk Nooren to focus on getting the team to RIO in September this year. Do you feel Henk is the right person for the job and what do you expect from him as a coach?

I'm sure Henk Nooren is the right person for this job, he has huge experience in this field and spares a lot of knowledge for the Italian team. I am sure things will take off in a great way between riders and new Chef d'Equipe. Emanuele-Gaudiano-Admara-2  

Aside from the Olympic focus we can say you started 2016 with a bang taking home six major victories on international level. In Leipzig you were victories in with the still young but fantastic Charlotta 232, what sort of horse is she, and how do you expect her to develop?

Carlotta 232 is a wonderful mare which despite the young age has already given me great satisfactions. I believe in her a lot, last year as a 6y.o. she was competitive and winning in a great number of classes so I hope for the best with her for the coming year and on.

And what about your other top horses, like Cocoshynsky, where can we expect to so you in action with which horses?

I will be alternating my horses in the next big shows, I have the mare Cocoshinsky who's a real warrior and never lets me down, she'll probably be coming with me to Qatar. My grey stallion Caspar also has huge potential and will come along to big events like the coming up Masters in Hong Kong. Guess 6, Come On and Corbanus are also other consolidated horses I'm counting on for this year.

One last final (opinion) from you, will Jeroen Dubbeldam and Zenith make it for the hattrick this year and take Olympic gold? (or will you keep him from doing so)

Well if, as I believe, Jeroen Dubbeldam's and Zenith's objective is another gold medal then it will be hard to hold them back from it. They're such a good pair in a moment of such great form.

Emanuele thank you very much once more. If there is anything special you want to share with us we have not covered in this interview, please feel free to do so.

It has been a pleasure to have your interview. Thank you very much to the Equnews Team.