In front of their home crowd at one of the Netherlands’ most prestigious shows, Robert Vos and the 16-year-old Swedish-bred Carat turned out to be unbeatable in Friday's CSI4* 1.50m De Telegraaf Prix at Jumping Amsterdam. As last to go, Robert Vos’ compatriot Leopold van Asten tried his best with the wonderful VDL Groep Beauty, but couldn’t make Vos’ time by one second. Henk van de Pol made it an all Dutch podium, finishing third on Willink.

Sixteen combinations cleared the first round and qualified for the second in a fully packed RAI Amsterdam. After Dutch riders Stefanie van den Brink, Frank Schuttert and Willem Greve all had an unlucky rail down in the winning round, Spain’s Manuel Fernandez Saro and U Watch (President x Nabab de Rêve) turned out with the first clear in 40.99 seconds. As the seventh rider in the winning round, Robert Vos and his extremely competitive Carat (Cardento x Krevad) gave it an impressive go in the jump-off. The Dutch rider opted for the normal number of strides on the first and last line, but his turns were tight and Carat did not lose any time on the fences and stopped the clock at 36.27 seconds.

Dutch rider Michel Hendrix and Baileys (Indoctro x Come On) – cousin to Laura Kraut’s former Olympic mount Liberty – showed great form, finishing on the fourth spot in 39.91 seconds. Being ranked second after his round, Michel Hendrix was soon pushed down by his compatriot Henk van de Pol. Riding Willink (Twister x Landsieger), Henk van de Pol really tried everything, starting on six strides on the first line, but the time turned out to be almost two seconds slower than Robert Vos’: 38.13 seconds. As last to go, Leopold van Asten and VDL Groep Beauty (For Pleasure x Contender) gave it an excellent try, but still Robert Vos and Carat could not be beaten and Leopold had to settle for runner-up position. 

Earlier at Jumping Amsterdam, last year’s Grand Prix runner-up Karim El Zoghby took home the victory aboard Colour Girl (Cormint x Locato) in the 1.45m Mercedes-Benz Prix. Dutch rider Michael Greeve became second, riding Eurohill’s Africa (Guidam x Voltaire). Last week’s GP Drachten winner Cassio Rivetti ended third on Coleman (Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve x Indorado).

The opening class, the 1.40m Kleer Delicatessen Prix, was won by the famous Dutch rider Jur Vrieling aboard his 11-year-old Flash Dance vd Kalevallei (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Gottwald). His compatriots Ruben Romp and Doron Kuipers followed on the second and third spot.

Text © World of Showjumping by Peter van der Waaij// Photo © Leanjo de Koster/www.digishots.nl.