JESSICA Burke fulfilled her goal at the Toscana Tour in Arezzo, Italy by winning the final three-star Grand Prix at the venue. Burke guided Liam Nicholas’ home-bred gelding Express Trend to the only double clear to clinch the big win and €13,000 in prize money.

It was a special day for Burke who had her aunt, uncle and cousins in Italy to support her, and also because of her special bond with the 13-year-old gelding who she has had since he was three. He endured a long break from the sport due to injury last year but has come back better than ever.

“It was a brilliant day,” Burke told The Irish Field. “With Trendy it’s a little bit more special. I am very lucky at the moment, I have three very good horses at that level, but he was out of the sport for 14 months, he only returned last August. He was always good, but he has come back even better. Every time he wins something, it means that little bit more. I’ve been riding him for 10 years now.

“He’s been brilliant all tour. We said we would aim to win one of the Grands Prix at the end and it’s one thing to target it but it was very satisfying when it actually came off. My aunt and her husband and their two daughters were out on Sunday. I’m very lucky that my family travel a lot to see me now I’m travelling so much. We are all very tight so I am very lucky to have them, it just means a bit more to have that support,” added Burke who is based at Louisa Church’s Arion Stud in Hampshire, England.

Burke and the Future Trend gelding, who is out of the Condios-sired mare Condios Express, were among five clears from the starting 42 combinations in the first round. Against the clock, the Galway native was the only rider to manage a second clear round in a time of 39.38 to secure victory.

Italy’s Massimo Grossato finished second with Tinkabelle RS (0/4 39.51), ahead of Latvia’s Kristaps Neretnieks in third with Palladium KJV.