It was Patrice Delaveau and the 12-year-old KWPN gelding Aquila HDC (Ovidius x Bollvorm´s Lauriston) that was the best pair in Saturday night's Anemone Horse Trucks Prize at Jumping Amsterdam.

Until September last year, Aquila HDC had success under the Dutch flag with his former rider Wout-Jan van der Schans in the saddle – but was sold to Haras des Coudrettes during the Showjumping Fund of the Netherlands-auction and now continues his winning ways under Delaveau. "This gives me a good feeling," said Delaveau after the class. "I am very happy because this is my first big win with Aquila."

Five riders produced double clear rounds in this 1.50m competition counting for the Longines Ranking, and with a time of 36.96 in the jump-off Delaveau was by far the fastest with a margin of almost a second down to runner-up Jerome Guery (BEL) riding the 11-year-old BWP gelding Garfield De Tiji Des Templiers (Quasimodo Z x Goldspring De Lauzelle). To the delight of the home crowd, two Dutch riders followed in third and fourth: Albert Zoer on Gigolo (Cicero Z x Quickfeuer Van Koekshof) and Jeroen Dubbeldam on Carusso LS La Silla (Montebello x Joost). Gianni Govoni (ITA) took the fifth place with the last double clear round. 

Earlier in the day, Dutch talent Lisa Nooren impressed with a victory in the 1.45m Hästens Prize riding the 9-year-old French bred mare VDL Groep Urane de Talma (Argentinus x Landor S). With the maximum amount of points in this accumulator competition, and a time of 50.03 seconds – Nooren brought the win home for the hosts. Her compatriot Sander Geerink followed with a time of 50.59 seconds aboard Bentley N (Numero Uno x Peter Pan), while Gerco Schröder completed an all-Dutch podium in third place. 

Text © World of Showjumping // Source on quotes: Press release from Jumping Amsterdam // Picture © DigiShots