In less than a week’s time, the 2024 edition of the prestigious show jumping circuit, the Morocco Royal Tour, will kick off in the magnificent facilities of La Garde Royale de Tétouan. This is the premier stage of a three-week tour that will take some of the world’s finest riders from this Mediterranean city on the shores of the Atlantic, first to Rabat, then concluding in El Jadida at the Salon du Cheval.

This unique circuit attracted riders from (almost) every continent: North and South America, West Asia, Africa—from North to South—and Europe. Some have just returned from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, starting with France’s Simon Delestre (FRA), who, after three Olympic appearances,  finally picked up his first medal in Versailles this past August: team bronze. Two riders who defended Saudi Arabia’s colors in Paris will also look for success on the MRT: Ramzy Al Duhamy (KSA) and Abdullah Alsharbarly (KSA). While there will be no Olympic riders for the Belgian and Swiss teams (who have historically always won the Nations Cup in Rabat), they will be well represented by champions who often top CSI 4 and 5* podiums, including Bryan Balsinger (SUI) on the Swiss side or Thierry Goffinet (BEL) and Thomas de Wit (BEL) on the Quiévrain, side of the border. Marine Scauflaire (FRA) will also return to defend her title after celebrating her first 4* Grand Prix victory in Rabat last year aboard Cuba Libre de Nevada Z.

Another rider will have a few victories to defend this year, notably those in the Tétouan and El Jadida Grand Prix: Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA), one of the Morocco Royal Tour’s most loyal riders who will perhaps try to lead the Italian team to their first victory in the Rabat Nations’ Cup—a new challenge for the Italian rifleman.

“It’s a circuit I love,” says the Lombard, who is based near the marvelous Lake Dezensano. “I’ve been coming to the MRT for ten years now, and the ambiance and the hospitality are fabulous. These two outdoor competitions and this indoor one are really a perfect combination for the transition between the summer and winter seasons. I’ll be coming with three horses this year, including Nikolaj de Music, who won these two Grands Prix last year, as well as Jaja, who also performed well last year, and a young grey named Chalous Love. I particularly liked the atmosphere in El Jadida and the enthusiasm of the people. I keep coming back to the circuit for moments like this.”

The French team looks particularly strong this year, with two riders alongside Simon Delestre who won 5* classes this year, taking the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in Monaco (Ines Joly) and Paris (Jeanne Sadran). The latter had a brilliant FEI World Cup final last April in Riyadh, where she finished in the Top 15.

Individually, Morocco regularly shines in the Morrocco Royal Tour Grand Prix, notably with the victories of Abdelkebir Ouaddar (MAR) and El Ghali Boukaa (MAR), who unforgettably took all three Grand Prix between them in 2022. We’ll be keeping our fingers crossed that all these Moroccan talents can join forces this year to win “their” Nations Cup on home soil in Rabat on Sunday, September 29.

In the meantime, we look forward to seeing you next Thursday in Tetouan, where these riders will begin their three-week battle in the most prestigious show jumping competition on the African continent.

Source: Press Release from Agence R&B Presse for the Morocco Royal Tour

Banner: © MRT – Morocco Royal Tour

Photo: © MRT / R&B Presse / Adèle Renauldon

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