The final standings saw Victor Bettendorf on top with his 12-year-old gelding Doha de Riverland, followed closely by Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs and L&L Lorde in second, and Germany’s Katrin Eckermann with Chao Lee in third. Rounding out the top five were Simon Delestre and Castanha van het Beeckhof Z, and Hans-Dieter Dreher aboard Elysium.

A beaming Victor said to GCTV: “Rome is one of the most beautiful events in the world, and to win here again is a special memory. The Circus Maximus has such a unique energy. I’m incredibly proud of Doha de Riverland and how he performed today.”

As the tenth edition of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Rome unfolded, the atmosphere was unlike any other. The towering ruins of the Circus Maximus framed the arena where gladiators once battled, and today’s modern-day champions took centre stage on horseback. Italian maestro Uliano Vezzani built a technical yet fair track that rewarded boldness and precision, inviting the sport’s best to deliver a masterclass of control and courage.

Fifteen world-class combinations lined up for the jump-off, each hungry to leave their mark on one of the most iconic stages of the season. The crowd barely had time to catch its breath as the action came thick and fast.

First to ignite the atmosphere, Brazil’s Marlon Modolo Zanotelli and Charly Heart looked sharp but were caught out in the double combination – their four faults coming fast but their pace setting an early measure of what was to come. Great Britain’s Robert Murphy followed, the young rider produced a faultless round in 38.98 seconds to take the lead and light up the scoreboard. His time looked competitive, but the door was open for the faster combinations still to come.

Denmark’s Andreas Schou set off meaning business, shaving time at every turn, but a delicate plank fell mid-course, leaving him fastest of the four-faulters. Then came Edwina Tops-Alexander aboard her striking new mare Caetlin vd Heffinck Z. The Australian star rode with trademark elegance and confidence, and though a single pole fell, the partnership showed immense promise - a duo to watch closely in the months ahead.

Hans-Dieter Dreher and the powerful grey Elysium delivered the next double clear, slicing 0.64 seconds off Murphy’s time with their enormous stride to take over the top spot. But it didn’t last long. Speed demon Simon Delestre entered the arena with riding the talented eight-year-old Castanha van het Beeckhof Z with all the flair that has made him a crowd favourite. Cutting every corner and leaving out strides where others didn’t dare, the Frenchman stopped the clock at 37.38 seconds to take the lead with a round that oozed confidence.

Hopes of a home victory briefly soared when Italy’s Piergiorgio Bucci and Cortez van’t Klein Asdonk Z entered to deafening cheers, but as they approached the same tricky fence that had caught out Marlon earlier, the crowd groaned as it fell once again denying a home win.

Momentum built as Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs, the reigning winner of this same class in Vienna just weeks ago, galloped into the ring with trademark focus aboard L&L Lorde. Every stride was calculated perfection – fast, fluent, and fearless. When he crossed the line, the clock stopped at 35.03 seconds – a full 2.35 seconds quicker than Delestre – catapulting him into the lead and bringing the Roman crowd to their feet. 

Maximilian Weishaupt took daring risks aboard Kokomo B but paid the price, two rails falling for eight faults. Germany’s Katrin Eckermann, in top form with her brilliant mare Chao Lee, came incredibly close, quicker through the first half but finishing just 0.66 seconds slower than Fuchs to slot into third.

Portugal’s Duarte Seabra rode a textbook clear, choosing a measured approach with Cooper LB that ensured a tidy, double-clear round, while Italy’s own Clara Pezzoli and Hadewyn van’t Ravennest couldn’t quite deliver the fairytale, lowering the Longines upright to finish on four faults.

Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann and the dazzling mare Iliana attacked the course with characteristic intensity, but their bold turn back to the delicate plank came undone - the rail tumbling and ending their hopes of victory. Niels Bruynseels looked on track for a podium finish until the final fence fell heartbreakingly late, while all eyes then turned to the final challenger.

Last to go was Luxembourg’s Victor Bettendorf, a man who knows exactly how to win in Rome. The 2024 LGCT Grand Prix of Rome winner set off aboard Doha de Riverland with blistering intent, combining precision and audacity in equal measure. Each stride drew louder cheers from the crowd, and as he cleared the final fence, the clock stopped at 34.74 seconds -  just enough to dethrone Martin Fuchs and secure a stunning victory in the heart of Rome.

The day was a perfect blend of sport and spectacle – a sun-drenched afternoon in the Eternal City, where ancient stones echoed once more with the sound of an enthralled crowd. The Circus Maximus, a site of legendary competition for over two millennia, proved once again to be a fitting stage for equestrian excellence.

With the tenth edition of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Rome in full swing, anticipation now turns to tomorrow’s headline event – the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Rome. Set to begin at 13:40 local time, it promises another unmissable showdown between the world’s elite, under the Roman sun and before one of sport’s most breathtaking backdrops.