Gonzalo Busca Roca & Cornet Obolensky on Top in the Lugano Grand Prix Qualifier CSI 3*

By Jumper News on 2025-07-18

Ocala, United States – July 17, 2025 – A picturesque, sunny Florida morning set the scene on Thursday for the highlight event of the day, the $32,000 Lugano Grand Prix Qualifier CSI 3*. Twenty-five horse-and-rider combinations representing 10 countries vied for top honors, but it was Spain’s Gonzalo Busca Roca (ESP) who emerged victorious aboard his own Cristiano Obolensky (Cornet Obolensky x Stakkato).

FEI Level IV course designer Anderson Lima (BRA) set a delicate and technical track with a tight time allowed. Only six competitors managed to jump clear within the time to return for the jump-off. The shortened course proved just as challenging, with only three combinations delivering another clear round.

Busca returned third in the jump-off and stuck to his plan of going fast and clear aboard the 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding Cristiano Obolensky. “The first three riders had one down, but I had two very fast riders behind me, so my plan was the same: try to be clear and try to go as fast as I could,” he explained. “In the beginning, I wasn’t sure if there was an eight from one to two, but I saw Wilton Porter do eight, so I tried it, and it worked out really well. Then it was six after the double and 10 to the last.”

Their effort proved unbeatable, stopping the clock at a quick 38.12 seconds.

**Brian Cournane** (USA) & **Castlefield Dream**

Captain Brian Cournane (USA) followed with a clear effort aboard Glenbeigh Farm’s 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Castlefield Dream (Clinton x Cero), and stopped the clock at 40.17 seconds to finish just behind Busca in second.

**Luis Pedro Biraben** (ARG) & **Georgina de Carles**

Last to return, Luis Pedro Biraben (ARG) aimed for another fault-free effort and succeeded aboard La Cuadra Stables’ nine-year-old Selle Français mare Georgina de Carles. Their time of 41.13 seconds secured third and added yet another podium finish to Biraben’s growing list.

“It was a very good design by Anderson,” noted Busca. “I think it was a good 1.50m class. It was quite technical, and I think it was difficult enough. We could see in the beginning that people were struggling with the time, so I made sure it was something that I kept in mind all the way around.”

Busca, a familiar face at World Equestrian Center – Ocala, shared his appreciation for the venue: “It’s an amazing place. Super nice arenas, great stabling, and the indoor arenas are really nice at this time of year in Florida. It’s incredible to be able to exercise and warm up the horses in an air-conditioned indoor.”