Morocco Royal Tour 2024: Rendez-vous Next Thursday in Tétouan
Emanuele Gaudiano and Nikolaj de Music won the Grands Prix of Tétouan and El Jadida © R&B Presse / Adèle Renauldon
In less than a week’s time, the prestigious 2024 edition of the Morocco Royal Tour show jumping circuit will kick off in the magnificent facilities of the Garde Royale in Tétouan. This will be the first stage of a three-week tour that will take the best riders from this Mediterranean city to Rabat, concluding in El Jadida at the Salon du Cheval.
This unique circuit attracts riders from (almost) every continent: North and South America, West Asia, Africa—from North to South—and Europe. Many of them have just returned from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, including France’s Simon Delestre, who, after three Olympic appearances, finally won his first medal last August in Versailles, taking home the team bronze. Two riders who represented Saudi Arabia at the Olympics, Ramzy Al Duhamy and Abdullah Alsharbatly, will also be competing in the MRT, aiming for new success.
Although the Olympic teams from Belgium and Switzerland, historically strong in Rabat’s Nations Cup, will not be present, they will still be well-represented by champions who often dominate the CSI 4 and 5* podiums. On the Swiss side, Bryan Balsinger will be competing, while for Belgium, Thierry Goffinet and Thomas De Wit will be in the spotlight. Marine Scauflaire, who claimed her first 4* Grand Prix win last year in Rabat aboard Cuba Libre De Nevada Z, will also be returning to defend her title.
Another rider looking to defend his victories is Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano, one of the most loyal participants of the Morocco Royal Tour. Last year, Gaudiano triumphed in the Grand Prix events in Tétouan and El Jadida with his horse Nicolaj de Music. This year, he will compete again, aiming to lead the Italian team to victory in the Rabat Nations Cup, a title that Italy has yet to claim.
“A Circuit I Love”
“It’s a circuit I love,” says Gaudiano, a native of Desenzano del Garda. “I’ve been coming to the MRT for ten years now, and the atmosphere, as well as the hospitality, is fantastic. These two outdoor competitions and the indoor one offer a perfect combination to transition between the summer and winter seasons. This year, I’m bringing three horses, including Nicolaj de Music, who won the two Grand Prix last year, Jaja, who also performed well, and a young grey horse named Chalous Love.” Gaudiano has particularly fond memories of the enthusiasm in El Jadida and the warmth of the people, which keeps bringing him back to the circuit for moments like these.
The French Team Looks Strong
This year, the French team seems especially strong. Alongside Simon Delestre, there will be two other riders who won 5* events in 2024: Ines Joly, winner of the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in Monaco, and Jeanne Sadran, who claimed the Grand Prix in Paris. Sadran also shined at the FEI World Cup final last April in Riyadh, where she finished in the Top 15.
Moroccan Talents Ready to Shine
Morocco consistently performs well at the Morocco Royal Tour, with memorable wins in the Grand Prix events. Abdelkebir Ouaddar and El Ghali Boukaa, for instance, took all three Grand Prix titles between them in 2022, showcasing their remarkable talent. This year, all eyes will be on Moroccan riders, with hopes that they will join forces to win their Nations Cup on home soil, set to take place in Rabat on Sunday, September 29.
In the meantime, anticipation is building for next Thursday in Tétouan, where these world-class riders will begin their three-week journey in what is considered the most prestigious show jumping competition on the African continent.
The event promises intense excitement and memorable moments for equestrian enthusiasts, who will have the chance to witness some of the world’s top riders in action.
Source press release Morocco Royal Tour
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