Alberto Zorzi triumphed in Monaco: he is ranked third now

26 June 2017 Denisa Kucik

Italy’s rider Alberto Zorzi showed his best form in Monaco with a spectacular Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix de Prince du Monaco, presented by the holding company Sapinda. After the Monaco competition, there was a change at the top of the overall LGCT ranking: now the German ace Christian Ahlmann is the in the first position of the ranking.

Alberto Zorzi, who had an excellent performance at the CSIO in Rome, commented his victory with a soft and timid voice:

I’m so excited to win my first Grand Prix – I can’t believe that before the class, but I had such a nice horse and he jumped great, Cornetto jumped very good. Before the jump off we watched Christian, and Jan said maybe one less in one to two, and I was just a little faster. To finish I’d like to say thank you to Jan and to Athina [Onassis, editor’s note] for the horses, Jan for teaching me every day. We work very hard but we have results, and we are very happy.

The Monegasque event offered an incredible spectacle of top-level show jumping unfolded in the arena on the edge of the world famous yacht harbour. It was all to play for when Alberto Zorzi and his horse Cornetto K came through the tunnel, he took one less stride between fences one and two and was up on the clock from the off, taking the water tray at three perfectly before bouncing through the combination and racing to a winning finish at 37.8s.

Lars Windhorst, Group CEO of Sapinda, presenting Sponsor of the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Monaco, said:

It is a great pleasure to be involved. We have been working with GCT for the 5th year and Monaco is in my opinion probably the most special event due to this magic setting and great atmosphere and I really enjoy my experience here. I was quite surprised when I first came to the Global Champions Tour how many diverse and interesting people are riding and watching it and involved in the sport. From a corporate perspective this is even more effective than Formula One as it is a more direct opportunity to meet people and be close to the action, so it is good all round.

The ultra-fashionable society displayed itself prominently on the tribune: from Princess Caroline of Hannover, alongside her daughter and Honorary President Charlotte Casiraghi; Bill Gates and his wife Melinda, supporting their daughter Jennifer, who competed in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix, too. Among VIP guests we cannot forget to mention: Marta Ortega and her father Anuncio, known for their chain of Zara clothing and accessories retail shops; the rock star Bruce Springsteen and his wife Patti, great supporters of their daughter Jessica; the two-time Formula 1 World Champion Mika Hakkinen and Australian champion jockey Michelle Payne.

Actress and Longines Ambassador of Elegance Ingeborga Dapkunaite, who has appeared in films including Mission Impossible and Seven Years in Tibet, said:

I would like to say how wonderful it is to be here, what a beautiful setting. Monaco is very special. I could not imagine where one would put horse jumping here but here it is! Longines always represents elegance and to give a prize to the winner is a great honour.

The Tour now gallops to Paris, where the iconic Eiffel Tower will play host to round eight of the electric 2017 Championship season. E-goTIMES is eagerly waiting for the Roman appointment in September to support our riders Alberto Zorzi and Lorenzo De Luca, respectively ranked third with 145 points and forth with 133 points.

– Denisa Kucik e Leila Tavi