This was Team USA’s sixth victory in the long history of this great event in the heart of Rome. But they had to fight every inch of the way, with the French side of Nina Mallevaey (Nikka vd Bisschop), Olivier Perreau (GL Events Dorai D’Aiguilly), Antoine Ermann (Floyd des Pres) and Kevin Staut (Visconti du Telman) keeping up the pressure to the very end.

The Americans last won in 2009 when Kraut was also on the team with her great grey legend, Cedric. And Ward was in the US side that won in 1997 partnering Twist du Valon.

And to the delight of the Roman crowd, Team Italy’s Giacomo Casadei (Marbella du Chabi), Emanuele Gaudiano (Chalou’s Love PS), Paolo Paini (Casal Dorato) and Giulia Martinengo Marquet (Delta Del’Isle) edged Germany out for third place.

Keeping spectators on the edges of their seats, the final result all hinged on the very last man into the ring. A fence down and the USA would be forced into a jump-off with the French who were carrying eight faults. But the multi-medalled McLain Ward held his nerve to deliver his second clear round of the day to maintain his country’s first-round four-fault tally and clinch the coveted trophy in style.

“It was a tough slog from the very beginning”, he pointed out. “We drew first in the order and we were hoping that would stay true in the end but it certainly wasn’t easy. After the first round we knew what we had to do in the second round, and as that was unfolding we weren’t really creating much of a gap so we were prepared for a jump-off - but one way or another we were going to try to win this thing!”

This was the sixth victory for America in the long history of this epic show, but it is 16 years since their last win in 2009 when Kraut was on the team with Cedric.

Ward, a member of the winning team in 1997, talked about today’s 12-fence track that proved quite a challenge. “Uliano (Vezzani) as a course designer always allows us to ride, it’s not about tricks and it’s not hiding jumps. But you had some bold fences, the wall, the triple out of the corner with the chariot in the way - that’s a little bit of a treat here! And then the last line was shifting away from the side, very delicate and that’s always a challenge. This is Rome, an iconic event, and it should be difficult”, he pointed out.