A popular Italian rider earned a timely birthday present yesterday at Olympia – The London International Horse Show CSI 5*-W in England.

Luca Maria Moneta put it all on the line, taking a late dash on the 17-year-old bay Selle Français gelding, Neptune Brecourt (Cavalor Cumano x Kayack), to clinch victory in the €15,000 Turkish Airlines Speed Stakes CSI 5*, crossing the finish line flawlessly in 51.11 seconds for top honors.

Robert Whitaker (GBR) and Major Delacour (Ksar-Sitte x Leopard) secured the second spot on the podium with no penalties in 51.22 seconds.

Eduardo Alvarez Aznar (ESP) and Casantos (Carthino Z x Orlando) completed the podium in 52.67 seconds for bronze honors.

Luca Moneta (ITA) & Neptune Brecourt

Moneta, who turned 51 yesterday and a strong advocate of working in partnership with the horse – many spectators will remember the way he fed his horse a carrot in the Puissance in 2013 (he still carries them in his pocket) – said: “Both my best horses are 17 years old and they spend a lot of time being horses rather than show jumpers – they go in the field every day at home.

Luca Maria Moneta (ITA) & Neptune Brecourt during the awards ceremony

“This horse enjoys competing so much that he would hate it if you left him behind – he finds it fun and easy. Sometimes when you get to the last fence in a speed class the horse will be hanging on the bit but Neptune was very focussed today and our partnership work was rewarded.”