It was the best equestrian sport could offer today in the CSI5* GLOCK’s Perfection Tour in Treffen, serving as the second qualification for Sunday's GLOCK’s 5* Grand Prix. Spectators cheered on 43 starting duos in the first round of this world ranking competition over 1.55 m, with prize money totaling 68,000 euros.

Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, Paul Estermann and Marcus Ehning opted not to participate in the jump-off, but the 14 remaining riders took the full risk and in the end the winner came from France.

Kevin Staut with the 12-year-old mare Estoy Aqui de Muze HDC (Malito de Reves x Kashmir van Schuttershof) was the fourth from last to enter the ring and eventually exited as the big winner. “Talking to my groom before the ride, I told her it would be great to get a place among the top five,” said Staut afterwards. “Normally this mare isn’t particularly fast. She did her first show in Rome following a one-year injury break, and is now in top fitness again. With 14 taking part in the jump-off, I knew that I had to go for it. The fact that I was so fast was something even I could scarcely believe,” smiled the likeable winner.

One glance to the result showed how fast he was. With a time of 42.07 seconds he beat runner-up Olivier Philippaerts on H&M Henna de Goedereede (Argentinus x Heartbreaker) by more than a second (0/43.12). With 0.02 seconds (0/43.14), the latter had a veritably tight lead on Marc Houtzager and his KWPN mare Sterrehof’s Bylou (Phin Phin x Niveau) that ended third. 

Source: Press release from Equestrian Worldwide // Picture © Michael Rzepa

1. Estoy Aqui de Muze HDC - Staut, Kevin (FRA) 0/42.07 j.o.
2. H & M Henna de Goedereede - Philippaerts, Olivier (BEL) 0/43.12 j.o.
3. Sterrehof’s Bylou - Houtzager, Marc (NED) 0/43.14 j.o.
4. Carambole N.O.P. - Greve, Willem (NED) 0/43.56 j.o.
5. GLOCK’s Zaranza - Schröder, Gerco (NED) 0/43.98 j.o.
6. Reavnir - Ahlmann, Christian (GER) 0/44.54 j.o.
7. Cielito Lindo 2 - Kühner, Max (AUT/T) 0/46.59 j.o.
8. Carolina 31 - Al Thani, Sheikh Ali (QAT) 0/47.74 j.o.
9. Hector van d’Abdijhoeve - Allen, Bertram (IRL) 0/48.14 j.o.
10.Camilo LS La Silla - Dubbeldam, Jeroen (NED) 4/43.92 j.o.
11.Fardon - Kontio, Anna-Julia (FIN) 4/45.87 j.o.
12.S I E C Carsten - Kutscher, Marco (GER) 4/45.93 j.o.