Bologna, April 20, 2023 – It has long been a favourite of the best riders in the world, and this year CSIO Rome – Master d’Inzeo offers more prize-money, a bigger arena and a super programme of competitions when it takes centre-stage on the equestrian calendar from 25 to 28 May.
Already there are 10 leading countries signed up for the €220,000 Intesa Sanpaolo Nations Cup which is the feature event on Friday 26 May, and many of the sport’s biggest stars will line out in the €500,000 Rolex Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon, 28 May. With a total of almost €1 million up for grabs over four days of spectacular jumping there is so much to look forward to.
Open
Once again the 2023 edition is completely open to the public who can watch all the action from both the ancient grandstands and the natural viewing areas graced by gloriously mature cypress trees.
The pure charm of the Piazza di Siena which lies in the lovely Villa Borghese park in the heart of the Italian capital city always ensures a large audience of enthusiastic spectators. And just over a year ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games the standard of competition is sure to be sharper than ever as riders set out to impress, and trainers and selectors keep a close eye on individual and team performances.
Italian course designer, Uliano Vezzani, won’t be making it easy for them, but he is delighted that the field of play has been upgraded and enlarged thanks to the temporary grassing of the gravel pathways around the outer edge of the oval-shaped arena which will now cover an area of 10,560 square metres. There will also be a different location for the entrance to the course, placed on the long side of the Casino dell’Orologio instead of on the short one.
«The dimensions have increased to 150 meters in length and 66 in width – explains Vezzani – The effort has been considerable, on the part of the Organizing Committee, and the result was excellent. The larger course will allow a less intense use of the lawn and therefore a better condition of the ground».
«Differences in the design of the course will be considerable, because the concept of the courses will be different, with larger spaces. Before I was forced to develop combinations longitudinally, now I will be able to do it also transversally. Therefore also horses movements will change: the effort will be greater but horses will have better comfort in the action that they will be able to develop on the course».
Competitions will also take place in the nearby Galloppatoio where the programme will get underway early in the morning of Thursday 25 May.
Excitement
The excitement ahead of the Intesa Sanpaolo Nations Cup at the Csio Rome is always second to none, and adding to it this year will be a spectacular flyover by the Italian Air Force who set the arena alight when first leaving their tricolour trail in the sky above the park in 2018. That year marked a second successive victory for Italyfollowing a 32-year drought, and the home side will be hoping the reappearance of their Italian Aerobatic Team will bring them luck once again. However with Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, The Netherlands, Switzerland and Sweden also chasing down that coveted Rome Nations Cup title it will be no easy task. The French return as defending champions following their victory last year ahead of Belgium in second place and The Netherlands in third.
Ireland’s Denis Lynch and the brilliant little Brooklyn Heights, who finished seventh at the recent FEI World Cup Final in Omaha, USA, were last year’s Rolex Grand Prix winners. The individual start-list for this year’s event is as yet unconfirmed, but it’s bound to be filled with sparkling talent because the top step of the podium in Rome is a place where every single rider in the world wants to stand.
So don’t miss a moment of the magic of CSIO Rome – Master d’Inzeo 2023 at Piazza di Siena. There’s more history to be made in the Eternal City.
For the timetable CLICK HERE
