Piazza di Siena sets the stage for one of the most prestigious Grands Prix of the year. Ben Maher’s Point Break meets Martin Fuchs’ Leone Jei, while last year’s winner Karl Cook returns with Caracole de la Roque.

The Favourites

Point Break vs Leone Jei

Two of the Top 10 Elo-rated horses in the world will go head-to-head in Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix of Rome. EquiRatings Predictive Analysis puts them as joint favourites for the win this afternoon allocating each a 12% chance at the win.

Ben Maher’s Point Break has had a fast ascent up the ratings in recent months with incredible performances and steady consistency at the highest level, highlighted by a runner-up finish at World Cup Finals in Basel last month. The 11-year-old stallion currently ranks as the second-highest rated horse in the world with an Elo rating of 789, second only behind the record-breaking King Edward (813). As Point Break competes in his 40th round at five-star 160 level today, he has maintained a superbly consistent record, staying clear 62% of the time. With this consistency and a World #2 rider on his back, many eyes will be drawn to this remarkable stallion.

One pair will not make it easy for them, however. Martin Fuchs & Leone Jei already have 6 five-star Grand Prix victories on their record and are always hungry for more. The pair have jumped more than double the amount of five-star 160 rounds (81) in their career together than Ben Maher & Point Break have, at a clear consistency of 52%. Fuchs’ white wonder currently ranks as the eighth highest-rated horse in the world on an Elo of 773.

The Challengers

Can the US score the double?

Fresh off Friday’s Nations Cup victory, the US riders will likely be in full form for Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix. Title defenders, Karl Cook & Caracole de la Roque, return with an 8% chance to add a second consecutive Rome Grand Prix title to their tally. The pair were a part of Sunday’s Nations Cup team and produced a Round 2 clear to contribute to that victory. The pair has shown remarkable consistency throughout their partnership having maintained a five-star 160 clear rate together of 63%.

Cook & Caracole will not be the only US pair to keep an eye on this afternoon. Olympic partnership, McLain Ward & Ilex, are among the favourites to win with a 5% chance at victory, while we may not rule out Laura Kraut and her 11-year-old mare Bisquetta, who finished as runner-up in the US Equestrian Open Final, Rolex Grand Prix of Wellington last month.

The hometown heroes

Riding the high of their podium finish in Friday’s Nations Cup, the Italian crowd will be backing their home riders for a win in Sunday’s Grand Prix. One of their favourites will undoubtedly be Giulia Martinengo Marquet and Delta del’Isle, who produced a beautiful Round 1 clear on Friday. With proven successes in the Rolex series, this pair will want to bring their best out on home soil today. 

Ones to Watch

With a win chance of 8% on paper, Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmerman and Iron Dames Dubai du Cedre are among the favourites for the win in today’s Rolex Grand Prix. Their relatively new partnership however has only seen them compete in 5 rounds at five-star 160 level together. Their first clear at this level came in Friday’s Nations Cup here in Rome. If this pair has found their rhythm together, they could become a pair to beat.