Text © World of Showjumping

The first Rolex Grand Slam Major of the year takes place this Sunday at the 2024-edition of The Dutch Masters and the action at the Brabanthallen got underway on Friday with an Italian victory in the CSI5* 1.45m Gemeente 's-Hertogenbosch Prize. 

As the first to go, Italy's Lorenzo de Luca and the 11-year-old Dirka de Blondel (Very Berlin de Castel x Lauterbach) raced around the track – setting an unbeatable standard when the clock stopped on 58.25. 

"I'm really happy about my round today with Dirka," de Luca told World of Showjumping after his victory. "She's been in very good form lately, and she always gives me 100%. She's so quick, naturally, and she actually felt calmer than usual today. She's unbelievable, I have been riding her for two years, I know her really well and she knows me really well." 

"Well, for me it doesn't change much if I go first or last with her," de Luca smiled when asked about his plan as the pathfinder for the class. "She is always quick and she's so careful that I can always trust her and take a risk. Some of the lines were a little bit long, so I just kept motivating her to find the right stride." 

Sweden's Angelica Augustsson-Zanotelli and Dyrka Du Carry (Siryus de Bavoz x Ruyblas) got closest to de Luca's time, taking the runner-up spot in 58.94, while Germany's Daniel Deusser and Bingo Ste Hermelle (Number One x Diamant de Semilly) placed third in 59.28. The hosts' own Maikel van der Vleuten and Elwikke (Eldorado vd Zeshoek x Quick Star) finished fourth in 59.53 and Brazil's Marlon Modolo Zanotelli fifth in 61.49 aboard Cornest (Balou du Reventon x Stakkatol).