Rhomberg Delivers the Big One: First Five-Star Victory in Tuscany

There are Sundays when everything clicks. The Tuscan sky, a jump-off loaded with pressure, and a rider who clearly had no intention of checking anyone else’s résumé before heading into the ring. In Lido di Camaiore, Austria’s Katharina Rhomberg claimed the CSI5* 1m60 Grand Prix at the Longines Versilia Horse Show. The first CSI5* victory of her career. And not against extras.

Last to Go, First to Finish

The setup looked dangerous from the start.
A packed jump-off, proven speed merchants already on the board, and a 38.06 posted by Abdulrahman Alrajhi that looked very much like a vault door slammed shut.

Then Katharina Rhomberg came in.

Partnering Colestus Cambridge (Colestus x Cambridge), the Austrian rider delivered the perfect round at exactly the right moment: double clear and 36.54 on the clock. Thank you and goodnight. First five-star victory for the 33-year-old rider, who didn’t exactly try to hide the emotion afterwards.

“I still can’t believe it! I’ve just won my first five-star Grand Prix! …”

And honestly, fair enough. Because your first CSI5* doesn’t come along like a local ribbon on a Sunday national.

Vezzani Turned the Heat Up to 1m60

The €309,000 Grand Prix featured a track designed by Uliano Vezzani, with fences standing at 1.60m. Serious business.
Out of 48 combinations, only seven found the finish line without touching a single rail in round one.

Among them: three Italians. And a Tuscan crowd obviously dreaming of a blue-jersey fairytale finish.

First back for the jump-off, Roberto Previtali aboard Quirinus 27 left one rail behind.
Then Emanuele Camilli and Chacareno PS delivered the first double clear in 41.80.

Solid. But nowhere near enough.

Guery thought he had the jackpot

Then came Jérôme Guery.
The Belgian rider, in strong form throughout his Italian weekend, partnered Qartouche de la Pomme d’Or for an ultra-clean jump-off in 39.24. The kind of time that forces everyone behind you to start gambling.

For a few minutes, it looked like the perfect hit.

Then Alrajhi went quicker.
And Rhomberg went quicker still.

Brutal sport.

Gaudiano went all in

Italy’s final adrenaline rush came courtesy of Emanuele Gaudiano and Esteban de Hus.
A blistering 37.34, faster than everyone — except one rail hit the sand. One mistake that turned a potential home triumph into a frustrating fifth place.

Show jumping loves these scenarios: sometimes the gap between local hero and premium spectator is about two centimetres of hind legs.

Versilia officially joins the big league

This 2026 edition of the Longines Versilia Horse Show marked a turning point: the Italian show is now officially CSI5*, the highest level on the global circuit.

And the organisers didn’t exactly do things halfway: Giorgio Armani, Longines, Rai Sport, Radio Monte Carlo, a stacked international field, and Tuscany turned into a postcard backdrop for world-class jumping.

In short, Versilia wanted a seat at the top table.
Judging by the cast list and the Grand Prix script, the badge looks fully earned.

Find the full Grand Prix results here.