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Daniel Deusser and Tobago Z win the CSI5* Rikstoto Grand Prix in Oslo

Saturday, 14 October 2017
CSI5*-W Kingsland Oslo Horse Show 2017

Daniel Deusser and Tobago Z. Photo (c) Alice Bjerke Daniel Deusser and Tobago Z. Photo (c) Alice Bjerke

Daniel Deusser (GER) and Stephex Stables' nine-year–old Tobago Z (Tangelo vd Zuuthoeve x Mr Blue) secured their first five-star Grand Prix win together after a seven-horse jump-off in the Rikstoto Grand Prix at Kingsland Oslo Horse Show on Saturday afternoon.

The 1.50-1.60-meter track was built by Olympic course designer Bob Ellis (GBR), and gave the riders a tough, but fair test at the first big indoor show of the 2017/2018 season. The faults spread out around the 12-fence track that included a triple combination at fence 4 as well as a combination at 9a and b, and in the end seven of the 44 riders that came to start were clear.

In the jump-off, the course was reduced to eight fences and nine jumps as the former triple combination was reduced to a double. Alberto Zorzi (ITA) and Danique (Zento x Hamlet) were first to go, but had an early fence down as the plank at fence 2 fell to the ground.

Juulia Jyläs (FIN) was next to go riding Courage T Z (Calvino Z x Espri). Jyläs pushed her horse forward and produced another clear round, crossing the finish line at 43,08 seconds. The Finnish rider has been based in the Netherlands for numerous years and has found a nice partner in the nine-year-old Zangersheide mare. Their time did however look more than possible to beat.

Gregory Wathelet (BEL) and his returning partner Forlap (Querlybet Hero x Heartbreaker) went for the win with good speed and a super inside turn to fence number three. The combination took out a stride to fence number six as well, but unfortunately on the expense of a pole down. Their time 38,78 was by far the fastest round of the day. Simon Delestre (FRA) also recorded faults as he had a stop at the penultimate oxer with Chesall Zimequest (Casall x Concerto 4) after a misunderstanding as they made a sharp turn.

Shane Breen (IRL) was next with his wonderful ride Laith (Lord Z x Weinberg). The combination looked like a winning couple, but the Irish rider held back on the time and crossed the finish line 0,31 seconds behind Jyläs to finally end third.

“I did not make a very good plan. But I watched a couple of the fast horses going and they had a fence down so then I thought I don’t have to go crazy. Then from one to two I should have had a stride less. When I did not do that I should have gone inside to the third one – I chose not to. And then I just didn’t make up the time. Again, to the last I should have done one less. I am delighted to be third and congratulations to Daniel for winning, but my horse is very fast and I let him down today. He wanted to win... I got him in June and I absolutely adore the horse,” Breen said after the class.

Robert Whitaker (GBR) had a pole down with Cash Sent (Verdi x Niveau) before Daniel Deusser entered the arena as last to go. Deusser rode a safe round aboard Tobago Z, and as they reached the end of the course it looked almost a bit too steady as the clock showed that the German rider was very close to the two on top approaching the final fence. Pushed forward by the audience the stylish rider got a good stride down the last line, to stop the clock 0,08 seconds ahead of Jyläs.

“Today it was really an advantage to be last to go in the jump-off. We had a few riders that were way quicker than the first and the second one today. I did not have to take all the risk in the jump-off. For me that was very good. My horse is only nine years. We did a good first round, but he is not too experienced in jump-offs. I could make my plan to go fast, but not ride everything out but try to win. I must say I was maybe a bit lucky because I was not that much faster than Julia,” Deusser said at the press conference after his win.

“I really liked the course today. Not because I won, but it was the first indoor (show) and the ring is big enough. We also had long enough lines everywhere and we did not have many faults on one specific fence. The faults were a little everywhere. I think everyone has to get used to that the fences come much faster now in the indoor season. In general, with seven clear rounds I think it was a nice course,“ Deusser concluded.


 

Text © World of Showjumping // Picture © Alice Bjerke 



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