Text © World of Showjumping

Marc Houtzager (NED) and the 15-year-old mare Sterrehof's Dante N.O.P. (Canturano x Phin Phin) won Monday's CSI4* 1.60m Longines Grand Prix at the 2023-edition of the Longines Pfingst Turnier Wiesbaden in Germany. With a time of 38.97, Houtzager and Dante were the fastest pair in a jump-off between eleven horse-and-rider-combinations, taking the win ahead of the host nation's Hans-Dieter Dreher (GER) and Cous Cous (Cachas x Lasino) who had to settle for the runner-up position after stopping the clock at 39.01. 

“She always wants to go forward and then you need the right control," Houtzager said about his winning partner Sterrehof's Dante N.O.P. in a press release from Longines Pfingst Turnier Wiesbaden. "It sometimes goes wrong in the jump-off, but today it worked really well. She was very careful and had a great attitude – she always wants to jump clear. When I came out of the jump-off, I already knew that I was pretty far ahead.”

“The course was really good," Houtzager continued. "There were difficulties all over the place, technically it was demanding, it was up to height and the time was pretty short – the course builder did a great job.”

"I got off to a great start with Cous Cous," second placed Dreher detailed about his jump-off. "From one to two I could leave out strides, got a good turn to three, did eight strides to the combination but then at the vertical around the front I had one stride too many – and I think that cost me the win. However, we've often been second in important competitions; the first place isn't far away."

Max Wachman (IRL) and Kilkenny (Cardento 933 x Guidam) placed third when the clock stopped on 43.64 for the young talent, while his trainer and compatriot Cian O'Connor (IRL) finished fourth in 43.84 aboard Tipperary (Arko x Diamant de Semilly). José Maria Larocca (ARG) and Finn Lente (Gaillard de La Pomme x Colandro) – the winners of Sunday’s 1.50m Grand Prix qualifier Preis des Hessischen Ministerpräsidenten – ended fifth with one down in 39.25. "Today is our biggest achievement yet," Wachman said. "It is a great honour to stand next to such brilliant riders as Marc and Hansi in the prize giving ceremony."

Earlier during the day, the CSI4* 1.50m Prize of Family Dyckerhoff – also counting for the Longines Ranking – went to Jack Whitaker (GBR) and Equine America Valmy de la Lande (Mylord Carthago*HN x Starter), ahead of Emeric George (FRA) and Dune du Ru (Vagabond de la Pomme x Apache d'Adriers) in second, followed by Pénélope Leprevost (FRA) aboard Fantasy de La Roque Z (For Hero de Hus Z x Hearbreaker) in third.