Moya and Ortega: the love’s train stops here

Amsterdam, February 2015 – They were seen together in Amsterdam, but things aren’t always what they seem to be. The one between Sergio Alvarez Moya and Marta Ortega, now officially divorcing and both competing in the CSI4*, was in fact an (un)friendly-after-separation-meeting. The Spanish website Vanitas already wrote about an alleged separation in October and in the equestrian milieu rumours have been going on since last summer. In January Lady Zara celebrated her 31st birthday with a glamorous party but her husband didn’t show up, this got the buzz going. After all this chattering, the Spanish couple stumbles into the New Year.

In autumn Moya was said to have left the marital stables Casas Novas in La Coruña and have returned back home in Asturias, even if the spouses appeared in public all kisses and hugs in front of the photographers, as they were triyng to make up for it.

The news, now reported by many websites (El Mundo explains the economical implications), is that the Inditex’s heiress has decided to leave the horse Carlo 273 to her ex-husband in exchange for his discretion on the “gossip”. The three-million-euros gelding had been bought by Ortega from the British rider Nick Skelton after the 2012 London Olympics, as her personal wedding present for Sergio.

After a suspicious break from the international arenas, Sergio has finally come back and appears to be in great shape: winner, aboard his grey superstar, of the World Cup Grand Prix in Zurich and placing first this weekend in the 150 class De Telegraaf, riding Kisby in the Dutch four stars.

Sergio, 26th in the Longines ranking, has now to focus on his personal career and go back to the horse trade business for which, the sell of Zipper, Babilonia and Carly could now be more understandable. Thanks to the top result achieved in Switzerland, Moya can truly dream of the final in Las Vegas and will compete in Bordeaux this weekend to gain more points. His ex-wife will be there too and they will be the only Spanish riders in the French show.

The divorce agreements are under discussion by lawyers, having as main topics the two-year-old son Amancio’s custody and the arrangements regarding horses, stables and money. Marta’s father, Amancio Ortega, is considered by Forbes the third richest man in the World and the first in Europe, with net worth of 57 billion euros. For this reason it is likely the divorce will not be a simple matter.

2 February 2015