After a jump-off quicker than the speed of light, Simon Delestre and the 14-year-old gelding Hermés Ryan (Hugo Gesmeray x Ryon d’Anzex) won Saturday night’s CSI5* Anemone Horse Trucks Grand Prix of Amsterdam. 

The French rider was one of six qualifying for the jump-off after producing a clear over the thirteen-fence track set by Louis Konickx.

Over the shortened track, that twisted and turned before a long run waited to the final jump – Germany’s Daniel Deusser set the target time as first to go. Riding the lovely 10-year-old mare Jasmien vd Bisschop (Larino x Chin Chin), Deusser really put pressure on the rest with an incredibly fast round in 31.94 seconds. 

Next to go, home hero Marc Houtzager and Sterrehof’s Edinus (Padinus x Columbus) gave it a good shot but was still behind by 3.53 seconds. Belgium’s Pieter Devos on Jade vd Bisschop (Ogano Sitte x Grannus) had to slot in behind between Deusser and Houtzager, 0.46 seconds behind the leading time. Following Bart Bles on four faults, Sweden’s Rolf-Göran Bengtsson came very close when crossing the finish line only 0.09 seconds behind Deusser with a very well jumping Oak Grove’s Carlyle (Casall x Corrado I). 

However, as next to go Delestre left the breaks by the in-gate and put his tiny chestnut gelding in top gear while the crowds were gasping for air as he took all the risk. Crossing the finish line, the French rider had shaved an unbelievable 1.32 seconds off Deusser’s time – pushing him down to second and Bengtsson down to third. 

As last to go, home rider Maikel van der Vleuten did his best to repeat yesterday’s win with Dana Blue (Mr. Blue x Hemmingway) but had to see a pole fall this time around to finish off 6th. 

“Daniel was so fast that I really needed to give it a good try,” Delestre said after. “But, Ryan is in so good form at the moment. He is a bit quicker than at the end of last year, when he had had a bit trouble with Lymes Disease for a period of time. But now this is fixed, and he jumped incredible today – he is back in top form like I know him.”

“Ryan will now do Bordeaux, maybe some small classes in Den Bosch and then Paris,” Delestre said. 

“I don’t think I will have a horse like him again. We have a long story together, a lot of ups and downs – but now at 14 he is still in top form. I am very happy to be able to manage to have him in a form like this at his age!”