August 25, 2024 
Rain in the Netherlands is anything but rare, yet Lorenzo de Luca was anxious to break a seven-year drought under Sunday’s Valkenswaard sun.
A Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) Grand Prix drought, that is. Even if that win came at the expense of the local fans, who were relying on hometown hero Harry Smolders to keep the title in Dutch hands after last year’s victor, Sanne Thijsen with 18-year-old Con Quidam RB, had a late rail in the Uliano Vezzani (ITA) course which cost them their shot at a Valkenswaard reprise.
It was a lean jump-off, with only 5 combinations who advanced to the second round, but there was no shortage of horsepower. Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) and Jerome Guery (BEL) both took a crack at it but left the flagship Tops International Arena disappointed with 4 faults and 12 faults respectively.
Despite dethroning Smolders, De Luca won plenty of fan favor after he galloped through the timers in 40.06 seconds with 11-year-old gelding Denver de Talma, over a second ahead of Smolders who finished with 41.26 seconds with his tried and true 15-year-old gelding Monaco N.O.P.
De Luca might have had an impressive margin, but there’s no doubt he watched on from the warm-up with baited breath. For the last-to-go was none other than reigning world number one, Henrik von Eckermann (SWE). Characteristically hungry for a win, he managed to break the 40-second barrier with 13-year-old mare Glamour Girl. However, clocking a brisk 39.61 seconds didn’t come without a heavy risk, and he lost his bid for the lead to the front rail of an oxer. Still, von Eckermann didn’t drop his pace, determined to finish as the fastest 4 faulter in the field.
Perhaps some of the longest 39.61 seconds of De Luca’s life, he could finally celebrate cracking his nearly decade-long curse.
“I felt everyone cheering for me, even if we stole the Dutch win,” said De Luca, who was full of emotion Sunday afternoon. “I believe in my horse so much, and I really wanted to give him the best ride because he really deserved to win today.”
Going into Sunday, you might say a favorable result was a toss-up. Denver de Talma is far from the most experienced of De Luca’s mounts, and out of the 10 rounds he’s logged at 1.60m, they’ve been clear 50% of the time and have placed within the top ten 20% of the time (JUMPR).
To be considered, perhaps, is just how competitive those 1.60m classes are with CSI5* Grand Prix like Dinard, Aachen, La Baule, and LGCT Madrid. After knocking at the door with a 5th place finish in Dinard, De Luca knew a Grand Prix win was right around the corner. Even so Von Eckermann and Smolders were standing in the way.
“I knew that Henrik was going to be for sure faster, and especially with that horse. He is such an amazing rider, so I really tried my best,” said De Luca.
For now, he can enjoy his moment of celebration, but De Luca can’t relax for long, and now that he’s back in the LGCT Grand Prix groove he’s looking towards the Super Grand Prix.
“I will be going to the Finals in Rabat and the LGCT Super Grand Prix in Riyadh. We’re really focused on those two Grand Prix now for the rest of the year. To win a Grand Prix like that would mean a lot to me, my team, and my owner who gave me so much confidence and such an amazing horse, and to end the year on a really good note,” said De Luca.
