NEWS

The rise in the international sporting scene of the Frecciarossa Milano Jumping Cup, the great international event focused on show jumping, continues at a fast pace. The entire competitive aspect is on the rise, with an eye on the 2023 European Championships that the International Equestrian Federation has decided to assign precisely to the historic Milanese facility.

The Snai San Siro Racecourse opened its gates to international horse shows for the first time in July 2021 and did so with the great style that has always distinguished it, despite the penalising restrictions imposed by Covid regulations.  
In the heart of the racing facility, at the centre of the tracks, an organised complex of last generation equestrian sports arenas was created, designed and built following the advice of top international experts.

Milan’s great show is confirmed by the number of participants and by the names of top-class riders who will be competing from June 24th to June 26th.

Compared to the first edition, this event has moved up to 4* level with total prizemoney amounting to 250,000 euros (100,000 more than last time) and with 14 nations competing (compared to 10 in 2021) - Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States and of course Italy – for a total of 175 riders and 240 horses.

TOP RIDERS READY TO GO LED BY SWITZERLAND’S DREAM TEAM
Two Swiss riders, world number 1 Martin Fuchs and Steve Guerdat are among many famous names jumping in the Frecciarossa Milano Jumping Cup.

Fuchs made it to the top spot of the international ranking this month after a two and a half year long wait. Since early in 2020, the Swiss rider has always been up at the top of the ranking placed among the 'Top Four'. Fuchs added to his prestigious CV filled with many other wins, victory in the World Cup final in Leipzig and last summer won individual silver at the Riesenbeck European Championships.
It seems pointless to emphasise that the 29-year-old top rider is arriving in Milan as a favourite.

Steve Guerdat too is not to be outdone. The winner of the 2012 London Olympics will in fact be looking forward to celebrating his recent 40th birthday with a big win in Milan.

There are 8 other riders supporting the Swiss team in the CSI4*, among them an exceptional competitor such as Pius Schweizer, who together with Guerdat and Fuchs was a member of the team that after 26 years won the St Gallen CSIO Nations Cup in front of a home crowd.

Important German riders instead include the winner of the 2021 Rolex Grand Prix in Rome, David Will, who will also be carefully watched in view of the excellent results he has achieved in recent weeks (first in the Wiesbaden and München-Riem Grands Prix), while remaining on the subject of important wins in Italy, Belgium will be able to rely on Abdel Said, winner of the World Cup Grand Prix at Jumping Verona in 2916 when he was still competing for Egypt.

Austria is fielding Stefan Eder, also a winner this year of the Grand Prix at the Montefalco 4* show while Great Britain is sending Joe Whitaker, nephew of the famous John and Michael.

Italy has 38 riders in this CSI4* and among them there are some of Italian show jumping’s recently successful stars such as Emilio Bicocchi, Luca Marziani, Bruno Chimirri and Emanuele Gaudiano. Gaudiano is determined to confirm his status as the top winner among Italy’s riders and increase the 46 international wins achieved so far this season.

Other Italian riders also include Omar Bonomelli and Paolo Paini who together with Bicocchi and Chimirri formed the Italian team that won the Nations Cup in Athens two weeks ago and Valentina Isoardi – who turned 30 yesterday, June 15th – riding Favina after her success in winning a class at Piazza di Siena.

Italy will also be able to rely on Filippo Marco Bologni, another extremely competitive rider who will pull out all the stops in trying to win in the Milanese grass arena, Fabio Brotto, Carla Cimolai once again riding Berlino Z with whom she won the Milan Grand Prix last year, Luca Maria Moneta, Filippo Codecasa, Ludovica Minoli, Roberto Turchetto, Roberto Previtali and Massimo Grossato, winner of the San Remo Grand Prix last Sunday.

There will also be the ‘forever young’ Roberto Arioldi (born in 1955) and star rider Alberto Zorzi who returned to Italy a few months ago after his long and fruitful experience in Jan Tops’ stables in Holland. Brothers Guido and Eugenio Grimaldi will be riding as will Bruno’s young daughter Elisa Chimirri.

(Photo: Martin Fuchs - credits FEI/Richard Juilliart)