THE Rolex Grand Slam dream was reignited for Germany’s Daniel Deusser on the final day of The Dutch Masters in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, as he claimed the prestigious Rolex Grand Prix title to become the Rolex Grand Slam live contender once more.

Some 38 of the world’s best riders lined out over Louis Konickx’s big 1.60m track of 13 fences with 17 jumping efforts. Just 12 of those managed to answer all the questions and make it through to the highly competitive jump-off. In the end, six combinations jumped double clear and Deusser, who travelled back to Europe from the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida where he is spending the winter months, had the winning time in 37.90 seconds to earn a whopping €231,000 with Stephex Stables’ 14-year-old stallion Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z.

“I was feeling confident as the horse has felt in very good shape over the last couple weeks, but you still have to bring it on the day of course” explained Deusser. “Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z jumped very well in the first round, he felt really nice but we had a lot of competitors in the jump-off which always makes it harder and puts on a little bit more pressure.

“It made me think about what tactic I should play a bit more, I tried to do one less stride from the first to second, but I knew even when I had done my perfect round, that there were good riders to come and it could maybe be beaten. I was very lucky that the ones who tried to go faster had the last down and I am over the moon with this result.”

Runner-up

The Netherlands’ Harrie Smolders finished second with Evergate Stables LLC’s Monaco, just as he had in Geneva last December. His time of 38.03 seconds when second to go against the clock earned him €140,000.

Smolders commented: “It was a bit of a disadvantage that I had an early draw. I rode my own round. Then I saw that I had left a small gap and that it could be faster. But they made a mistake because they took more risk. I think Daniel Deusser rode a perfect round. That is top sport. It is decided in hundreds of seconds. Monaco jumped fantastic again. I am super satisfied. Now up to the World Cup finals in Leipzig next month.”

Dutch riders also filled the next two spots and taking the final podium place was Willem Greve with the 11-year-old stallion Gandorado TN when, last to go, they broke the beam in 38.40. “Mega cool this result. I have trained Grandorado TN from scratch,” Greve said. “He has always been in the spotlights, because he is a much sought-after stallion. I have always believed in him and I really worked towards this Grand Prix. I had a great feeling beforehand. He is in shape and now everything falls into place. At this level all aspects of the sport come up. This gives a lot of satisfaction.

Bart Bles with Kriskras DV was clear in 39.64 for fourth place, while Belgium’s Pieter Devos and Claire Z had to settle for fifth (0/0 39.95), and Dutchman Jack Ansems was sixth with the final clear aboard Fliere Fluier (40.93). Scott Brash (Hello Jefferson) and Marcus Ehning (Stargold) both had faster times than the winner but a fence down saw them finish seventh and eighth.

Deusser now heads to Aachen at the end of June as the live contender for the Rolex Grand Slam where he will defend the title he won last year on home soil.

Ireland’s Denis Lynch was sixth in the opening day’s 1.50m with Molly Ohrstrom’s 13-year-old Brooklyn Heights, who he began riding in February. The pair faulted in the jump-off. Victory in the class went to Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs riding The Sinner.