Emanuele Camilli and his exceptional mare, Chacco’s Girlstar, soared to a career-defining victory in the €720,000 Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Mexico City, presented by GNP Seguros. Under the floodlights of Campo Marte and in front of a packed-out crowd, Camilli (ITL) delivered a lightning-fast round of 42.99 seconds in the jump-off, securing his first-ever LGCT Grand Prix triumph.
His victory came by the slimmest of margins, edging out Germany’s Jörne Sprehe and Sprehe Hot Easy by just 0.32 seconds. Meanwhile, Belgium’s Jérôme Guery and Great Britain V rounded out the podium, finishing a close third with a time of 43.50 seconds.
Strong Showing from Great Britain’s Jérôme Guery and Great Britain V in Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix
British fans had reason to celebrate as Great Britain V, ridden by Jérôme Guery, delivered a remarkable third-place finish. The talented gelding’s performance was particularly inspiring given his comeback from colic and injury. Reflecting on the moment, Guery said:
“I don’t remember the last time I rode a jump-off so fast! But with the atmosphere here, the public, and each rider getting quicker and quicker, it was so exciting to be part of. If I had to ride this class again, I wouldn’t change a thing – I’m so happy with my horse!”
The 1.60m course, designed to challenge the world’s best, featured a particularly tricky home stretch that proved decisive. With a tight time allowed, many top riders fell just short of making the jump-off, including Mexico’s Nicolás Pizarro, who missed out by a mere time fault.
Championship Standings Shake-Up
Camilli’s breakthrough win in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix earned him 40 crucial points, propelling him into third place in the overall LGCT Championship standings. He now sits just behind Edwina Tops-Alexander (44 points) and new leader Denis Lynch (59 points).
Alongside the victory, Camilli also secured his golden ticket to the LGCT Super Grand Prix at the GC Prague Playoffs this November. The Italian rider, who has previously watched the prestigious event from home, was elated:
“It is my first year on a team in the GCL, and now winning the Golden Ticket for the LGCT Super Grand Prix means a lot. I can’t wait to feel the emotion of Prague.”
High-Stakes Jump-Off Delivers Drama
With nine riders initially qualifying for the jump-off, only five world-class combinations remained in the race after a demanding first round. The competition was fierce:
- Christian Ahlmann (Dourkhan Hero Z) set the early benchmark with a double-clear in 44.41 seconds.
- Jana Wargers (Dorette OLD) followed but was 0.42 seconds off Ahlmann’s time.
- Jörne Sprehe (Sprehe Hot Easy) sliced over a second off Ahlmann’s time to take the lead at 42.31 seconds.
- Jérôme Guery (Great Britain V) came agonisingly close at 43.50 seconds.
- Denis Lynch (Vistogrand) suffered a heartbreaking rail at the double combination, eliminating his chances.
As the final rider to go, Camilli knew he had to deliver something spectacular. Throwing caution to the wind, he galloped fearlessly to the last fence, stopping the clock at 42.99 seconds and snatching victory from Sprehe in the final moments.
Next Stop: Shanghai
With two thrilling LGCT stages now complete, the Championship battle intensifies. Riders will head to Shanghai from 2-4 May for the third leg of the season, where another high-stakes showdown awaits at the Shanghai Juss Equestrian Centre.
Can Camilli continue his winning momentum? Will Great Britain’s rising stars challenge for the podium again? Stay tuned as the Longines Global Champions Tour continues its journey across the globe.
