Santiago Diaz Ortega continues his winning streak at the Morocco Royal Tour
El Jadida, Friday, October 16, 2026 – Competition continues at the El Jadida leg of the Morocco Royal Tour, featuring both CSI2* and CSI5*-W events. The highlight of the day, the 1.50m CSI5*-W Prix FBP, a qualifier for the Grand Prix of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, was won by Colombia’s Santiago Diaz Ortega riding Jump For Joy.
Santiago Diaz Ortega and Jump For Joy win the Prix FBP
Uliano Vezzani certainly did not make things easy for the riders in the first qualifier for a CSI5* Grand Prix at the Morocco Royal Tour. Renowned for his technical courses, the Italian course designer had set a particularly challenging track, featuring two consecutive double combinations at fences 6 and 7, followed by a third at fence 11, where the plank on the way out proved to be the ultimate test.
Among the 50 horse-and-rider combinations on the start list, Colombia came out on top thanks to Santiago Diaz Ortega. Riding Jump For Joy, with whom he had already claimed victory in a class at the CSIO4*-W in Rabat, the Colombian appears to be thoroughly enjoying the Moroccan tour and will undoubtedly be one to watch in Sunday’s Grand Prix of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
“I am very happy with today’s victory and grateful to my horse,” said the winner. “Jump For Joy gave everything he had on a course that was far from easy. Although he is the horse I qualified with for the Grand Prix, he won’t be competing in it. In fact, his weekend is already over. This is my third time competing at the Morocco Royal Tour, but it had been almost ten years since my last visit. I’ve always had it marked on my calendar, but for various reasons, I was never able to make it back. I’m delighted to be here again this year, and it’s always a pleasure to experience the wonderful hospitality we receive.”
Italy’s Roberto Previtali took second place aboard Conthargho-Blue (63.91 seconds), while France’s Antoine Ermann finished third with Odin Van ’T Hanegoor (64.50 seconds).
Santiago Diaz Ortega… already making his mark
Just a few hours before his victory in the qualifying class, Colombia’s Santiago Diaz Ortega was already making his mark. This time, riding Karajan JT Z, he claimed victory in the 1.45m CSI5*-W Prix INWI, stopping the clock at 25.60 seconds. Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Alsharbatly finished second aboard Boeckmanns Lord Pezi Junior (26.44 seconds), while France’s Alix Ragot took third place with his stallion Gold Sky de Pégase in a time of 27.30 seconds.
Morocco vs Belgium in the CSI2*
El Ghali Boukaa kicked off the second day of competition with a victory for Morocco in the 1.35m CSI2* Prix ONCF. Riding Real Music, he completed his round in 52.29 seconds. Belgium’s Virginie Thonon finished second aboard Scope (55.11 seconds), while Boukaa also secured third place, this time riding Lamborghini TCS (55.18 seconds).
In the 1.40m CSI2* Prix ANCFCC, it was Belgium’s turn to take the win, with Thierry Goffinet riding Kannan Dry B to victory in 61.44 seconds. Morocco’s Abdelkebir Ouaddar finished second aboard Chacsara (61.98 seconds), while France’s Cyril Bouvard took third place with Ibérique des Rondets (64.84 seconds).