Competing in her second WDM in a month--she finished third in the WDM CDI5* Special at Munich in May--the 24-year-old and Eremo del Castegno scored 71.042 per cent with Germans Matthias Alexander Rath on Triviant UNICEF second on 69.667 per cent and Anja Plönzke on Le Mont d'Or third on 68.792 per cent.

The two Germans were favored as Anja and Le Mont d'Or were the defending Grand Prix Special champions from 2009 and came second in the Grand Prix Thursday behind Isabell Werth and Warum Nicht, with Matthias third and Valentina in fifth place.

In vying for prize money of €30,000 (US$36,200) in the Special that was presented by Moorland and Massa Autopneu, Valentina and her Italian-bred nine-year-old gelding were unfazed by the festive late night atmosphere following a day and night of Global Champions Tour jumping at this French Riviera resort that is a favorite of celebrities.

"Yes, we did a good job today," Valentina said after her ride. "My horse was much more relaxed because he is better adapted to the program of the Grand Prix Special, as there is more passage and extended trot, which are the things he's good at... thus he was naturally more relaxed."

Italy did not qualify a team for the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky but Valentina will participate as an individual.