Steve Guerdat & Looping Luna Light Up Again in The Defender Stakes CSI 5*

Windsor, England – May 03, 2024 – International Show Jumping got underway at the 2024 Royal Windsor Horse Show CSI 5* on Friday and the feature class of the day was €28,200 The Defender Stakes, a 1.55m jump-off class. The course proved to cause challenges throughout and it wasn’t until sixth to go, Laura Kraut (USA) from the USA, that anyone posted a clear round. Kraut was followed in quick succession by British legend John Whitaker (GBR), who secured a place in the jump-off aboard Arqana de Riverland. In total, 14 made it through to the jump-off, including home favourites Harry Charles (GBR), Robert Whitaker (GBR), Joseph Stockdale (GBR) and Ben Maher (GBR). 

Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) was the first to take on the shortened jump-off course and set an impressive standard, going clear in 37.95 seconds. However, with a big field to follow — including World, European and Olympic medalists — his lead was by no means secure. Laura Kraut (USA), a gold medalist at last year’s Pan-Am Games, then shaved 0.2 seconds of de Luca’s time to take over the lead in the early stages. 

The lead changed on several occasions in the run-in with Italy’s Giulia Martinengo Marquet (ITA), who was making her Royal Windsor Horse Show debut, taking over the top spot from Kraut, before herself being usurped by Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat (SUI). The London 2012 Olympic champion set a time of 35.67 seconds with Looping Luna, to take a lead almost one second faster than Martinengo Marquet. 

Guerdat said: “I am very happy with the win, it’s always great to win at the places you like – and I really like it here at Windsor – and I am especially happy for my mare. I have had her for a while and we have had some struggles together, then at the beginning of the year she started to jump really well and the feeling was getting better and better. She won a 1.50m last week and now a win here again, so I am excited for the future with her.”

Guerdat continued: “It’s so nice to ride her against the clock, she loves going fast, she has a big stride and she turns really well. I know she is fast so I actually don’t need to watch what the others do, I just trust her natural speed and enjoy the ride.”

Looking ahead to the Rolex Grand Prix on Sunday, Guerdat said: “It’s going to be a tough class on Sunday. I brought my top horse, Dynamix De Belheme, for the Rolex Grand Prix, she won the 5* in Fontainebleau last week. She’s in good form and I hope that I can do something good with her on Sunday.”

Final Results – €28,200 The Defender Stakes CSI 5*

1) Steve Guerdat (SUI) & Looping Luna – 0 / 0 – 35.67

2) Ben Maher (GBR) & Ginger-Blue – 0 / 0 – 36.59

3) Giulia Martinengo Marquet (ITA) & Delta Del’Isle – 0 / 0 – 37.85

Source: Press Release by Nikki McEwen / Revolution World for Royal Windsor Horse Show

Photos: © RWHS / Peter Nixon

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