Text © World of Showjumping

France's former world number one Simon Delestre and Dexter Fontenis Z (Diarado x Voltaire Pref, bred by S.C.R.I S.Ky Horses and owned by Eric Hochstadter) won Saturday's CSI5*-W 1.60m Rikstoto Grand Prix at Agria Oslo Horse Show 2023 in the Norwegian capital. 

Five pairs out of the 44 horse-and-rider-combinations at start cleared Elio Travagliati's (ITA) first-round track that counted 13 obstacles and 16 efforts, and joined the deciding jump-off over a shortened course. As the last pair out, Delestre – currently ranked 10th on the Longines Ranking – and Dexter Fontenis Z stopped the clock on 34.24, taking the win ahead of Belgium's Pieter Devos and Jarina J (Cicero Z x Harley, bred by H.C.B.M. Janssen and owned by Devos Stables) who had to settle for the runner-up position with their time of 35.05.

"I am really happy with Dexter," Delestre told World of Showjumping. "He jumped fantastic in both rounds, he is in top form." 

Sweden's Henrik von Eckermann – current world number one – and Calizi (Cellestial x Stakkatol, bred by Thomas Lengert and owned by Dufour Stables Ag) placed third in 36.23, while Austria's Max Kühner – currently ranked 9th on the Longines Ranking – and EIC Julius Cesar (Couleur Rubin x Cancara, bred by Spexgoor Stables/L. Spexgoor and owned by MK Sportpferde) finished fourth ahead of Belgium's Anthony Wellens and Danger Civil vh Lindenhof Z (Diamant de Semilly x Silvio I, bred by Jean-Pierre Bosch and owned by Willows Farm) in fifth.