The double Olympian, riding his trusty 15-year-old gelding VDL Groep Verdi, won the 11-horse jump-off with a time of 35.91sec at the Italian city’s Veronafiere venue.

This was despite a brave attempt from Italy’s Alberto Zorzi, who finished as the runner-up on Fair Light van T Heike in 36.17.

Belgium’s Pieter Devos, riding Apart, finished third in 37.03.

Van der Vleuten, 29, paid tribute to his horse who he has had since he was a four-year-old.

"He is a horse that likes to win and that’s very important," he said.

"If you are a good rider and you have a horse that is not able or doesn’t want to win, then it’s just not possible.

"Every week I try to feel how he is.

"I don’t need to teach him jumping anymore.

"He knows his job and what’s most important for me is that he has to be happy."

Today’s result has moved Zorzi to the top of the rankings going into the fourth leg of the series in French city Lyon next Sunday (November 5).

His tally of 25 points is one more than France’s Kevin Staut, who dropped to second after failing to make the jump-off today.

Van der Vleuten is third with 23 points.

Action also took place this weekend in the FEI World Cup Jumping North American League as Canada’s Isabelle Lapierre became the first rider to win multiple events on this year's circuit. 

The 38-year-old rode Cescha M to her second triumph of the season in front of a home crowd in Calgary.

Lapierre and her own 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare were one of just three horse-and-rider combinations to jump cleanly in the first round.

No one produced a clear round in the jump-off, with Lapierre sealing victory courtesy of a four-fault score and a winning time of 50.16.

Compatriot Laura Jane-Tidball and Concetto Son came second after clocking a time of 50.75 and also knocking one jump-off rail down.

American Sarah Scheiring and Dontez were third with four faults and a time of 52.84.

Lapierre and Cescha M won the season opener of the North American League, prevailing in Canadian city Bromont in August in what was the mare’s World Cup qualifier debut.

Calgary was one of two North American League event locations this weekend as Switzerland’s Beat Mändli and World Cup qualifier debutant Dsarie won in the United States’ capital Washington D.C.

Mändli’s first trip to the Washington International Horse Show saw him top a thrilling 11-horse jump-off.

The field also included the top two ranked riders in the world, Americans Kent Farrington and McLain Ward.

Ward finished second with HH Callas after posting a time of 32.30.

America's Catherine Tyree and Enjoy Louis finished third in 33.83.