Alberto Zorzi & Cornetto K at the 2017 LGCT of Miami Beach. Ph. Erin Gilmore for NF.
Great Britain’s Alexandra Thornton has added two world caliber mounts to her string of horses with the addition of the 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding Cornetto K (Cornet Obolensky x Calido) and the 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Living the Dream (Toulon x Flamenco De Semilly).
Both horses, previously ridden by Italy’s Alberto Zorzi, were under the ownership of Greek’s Athina Onassis. Onassis rides with mentors Jan Tops and Edwina Tops-Alexander, who train both Zorzi and the 24-year-old up-and-comer Thornton.
Both Living the Dream and Cornetto K were paired with the Italian rider in January of 2017. Zorzi and Cornetto K have had a successful season of competition, receiving multiple distinctions on the competitive LGCT circuit. On June 24 they won the €300,000 Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix de Prince du Monaco, and overall, have acquired 14 top-ten placings in the span of seven months. Zorzi and Living the Dream competed at various CSI competitions across the European and Asian continents, most recently securing a 3rd place finish in the 1.50m CSI5* class at the LGCT of London on August 6. Both horses were previously ridden by Brazil’s Doda de Miranda. He piloted Cornetto K to a top 10 individual placing at the 2016 Rio de Janiero Olympic Games.
Thornton, who competes in the Global Champions League as the U-25 rider for the Shanghai Swans, will now benefit from the school mastery of these top level competitors.