Stephex Stables’ very own Daniel Deusser and Calisto Blue (Chacco-Blue x Con Air) brought the victory home to Knokke Hippique-host and Event President Stephan Conter in Friday evening’s CSI5* 1.50m Invest Mobile Prize. 

Ten of the 47 horse-and-rider combinations in this Grand Prix qualifier managed to clear Uliano Vezzani’s demanding first-round track. However, only seven opted to ride the jump-off. For the jump-off, Vezzani had made use of the entire Zoute Plage – opening for lots of galloping but also some short turns. 

As third last to go, Deusser pulled off the fastest round of the competition – the German rider stopped the clock at 44.50 seconds pushing Italy’s Roberto Turchetto on Baron (Colman x Numero Uno) down to second place and Belgium’s own Gudrun Patteet on Sea Coast Valdelamadre Clooney (Centeuer Z x Quantum) down to third. None of those to come could catch the top three, Turkey’s Efe Siyahi finished fourth and Ireland’s Cian O’Connor fifth. 

"As Calisto Blue is my horse for tonight and for tomorrow, and I will ride Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z on Sunday, it was my plan to try and get a good result,” Deusser said after his win. “When I first saw the jump-off, I thought it was not really his kind of jump-off, but actually he stayed very calm in the long forward distances and jumped really good. Calisto Blue just has so much quality, and I know him for a year already. He has been very consistent in the past few months and I hope we can keep this form up.”

"Of course, everybody expects us Stephex-riders to have good results here – so it makes me even more happy!" Deusser added. 

About Knokke Hippique, Deusser said: "It is made by people who know what is important, this show is a result of hard work and a good team. I think in general we are very lucky with the weather, during the day with the sun you really get an impression of a holiday here. The possibilities to ride your horses are amazing, there are many rings and we have a lot of space everywhere. Hopefully in the future we will have more shows like this."

Dominique Hendrickx, the winner of Thursday’s 1.50m feature class, once again turned out to be unbeatable in Friday’s CSI5* 1.45m presented by Artemide. This time the Belgian rider brought Koriano Van Klapscheut (Lord Z x Darco) to the Zoute Plage, and as last to go he took full advantage of his position to shave off 0.06 seconds on Cian O’Connor and Diego’s (Colman x Guidam) leading time. Third place went to Italy’s Piergiorgio Bucci and Cochello (Casall x Cartani 4).

"I like this show, I feel good and everything seems to work out, so I am really happy at the moment,” Hendrickx commented. “Actually, Koriano is my Grand Prix horse so I was not expecting to do a quick round like this. But he did it good, we were smooth and I hope we are ready for Sunday.”

After finishing third yesterday, Frederic Vernaet and Gin Duidam (Quidam de Revel x Corofino) went all the way to the top on Friday when winning the CSI5* 1.40m presented by Eland. Irish team mates Darragh Kenny on Quatinka (Frh Quaid x Perigueux) and Bertram Allen on Go To Fortuna (Eldorado van de Zeshoek x Vancouver), both also in top form on Thursday, finished second and third respectively.