April 20, 2026 
Of the eleven combinations that tried their luck on the jump-off field of the Campo Marte during Sunday’s LGCT Grand Prix of Mexico City, Piergiorgio Bucci was more surprised than most about the outcome.
Sixth to return for the shortened course on the sprawling grass stadium in front of packed crowds, the Italian rider had full confidence in his horse, Pallieter vd. N. Ranch—if not, necessarily, in their ability to outpace the rest of the field.
“I had a feeling I was going slow, I don’t know why. [Pallieter vd N. Ranch] just makes up space; [he’s] just so intelligent. He just picks up the next jump and makes my life so easy. He’s a real superstar,” Bucci said of the 11-year-old grey Belgian stallion, his partner of just under a year.
When asked if he thought he’d done enough with still half of the jump-off field left to come, Bucci admitted that by his calculations, he hadn’t. “My horse picked up the jumps super-fast and to [Jump No. 2], I had to hold, and also to [Jump No. 1]. I thought I was actually slow.
“I had exactly the reverse feeling yesterday [in the 1.50m Trofeo Banorte with Cortez van’t Klein Asdonk Z]. I thought I was super-fast, and at the end, I was fourth. Anyway, I prefer it like [this]!” joked Bucci, who stopped the clock at an uncatchable 43.68 seconds thanks to a series of precisely sliced angles and Pallieter’s impressively ground-covering step.
Fresh off their record-setting win at LGCT Miami Beach, Germany’s Katrin Eckermann was once again in fine form with Iron Dames Dialou Blue PS. The pair finished second in Mexico City on 45.04 seconds, virtually swapping places with Bucci, who took third with Pallieter vd N. Ranch three weeks ago in Miami. Simon Delestre (FRA) was third in Mexico City with Golden Boy DK (45.95 seconds).
“It is amazing here, the venue, the crowd, I really love to ride here and my horses always respond incredibly,” Eckermann said. “Of course, I would have loved to have won—[I] added one stride too many in the vertical—but [Iron Dames Dialou Blue PS] really was amazing yet again.”
Bucci’s Pallieter vd N. Ranch is still relatively new to this level of competition, having jumped just 11 rounds at the 1.60m height over the last two years (Jumpr). The combination currently maintains a 50% clear rate or better at 1.50m-1.55m, and finishes in the top 10 in one-third of the classes they’ve jumped at 1.60m.
With this result, both Bucci and Eckermann will shore-up their positions in the LGCT standings, with Eckermann leading on 77 points after back-to-back podium finishes, and Bucci close behind on 75 points. Both riders are now officially qualified for the LGCT Super Grand Prix in November, something that has a special significance for Bucci.
“I never had this chance to do this [LGCT Super Grand Prix] final, so I’m really excited and really happy,” Bucci said. “I will do my best to be good there also.”
