Text © World of Showjumping

“Cayman deserved this win, he proved today that he is back in full form,” France’s former world number one Simon Delestre said after taking the top honours in the first Rolex Grand Slam Major of the year – the Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters in ‘s-Hertogenbosch – with the 13-year-old gelding Cayman Jolly Jumper (Hickstead x Quaprice Bois Margot).

A total of 39 horse-and-rider combinations lined up for the first Rolex Grand Slam Major of the year in the sold-out Brabanthallen. The 1.60m course set by Louis Konickx (NED), Quintin Maertens (NED) and Gerard Lachat (SUI) counted 14 obstacles and 18 efforts and proved a fitting test for the world’s best. Kicking off with the Rolex Grand Slam-wall at fence one, a vertical-vertical-oxer triple combination waited at 5abc and two more combinations followed – an oxer-vertical combination at 8ab with a water underneath the b-element, as well the very last fence, an oxer-oxer combination at 14ab.

As pair number seven out, Brazil’s Yuri Mansur and the 12-year-old mare Miss Blue-Saint Blue Farm (Chacco-Blue x VDL Zirocco Blue) posted the first clear round. The second clear round came from Great Britain’s Olympic team champion Scott Brash – the only rider ever to have won the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping – and the 12-year-old mare Hello Chadora Lady (Chacco-Blue x Nintender), while Delestre and Cayman Jolly delivered the third clear halfway through the class.

Eventually, the jump-off remained between the three. An unfortunate time penalty from round one kept Pieter Devos (BEL) and the impressive 10-year-old mare Casual DV Z (Cornet Obolensky x Cicero Z) out of the jump-off, leaving them fourth in the end, while last year’s winner Willem Greve (NED) on Grandorado TN N.O.P. (Eldorado vd Zeshoek x Carolus II) saw his dream of a back-to-back win crushed as a pole fell on fence eleven. Following their win in the Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva, Harrie Smolders (NED) and Monaco (Cassini II x Contender) arrived in ‘s-Hertogenbosch as the Rolex Grand Slam live contenders. However, home soil held no luck for the Dutch rider who faulted at the b-element on fence 8ab.

In the jump-off, both Mansur and Brash had a fence down, leaving the door open for Delestre as last-to-go. Posting the only double clear of the competition, the 2024 Olympic team bronze medallist took the first Major win of his career, while Brash had to settle for second and Mansur for third.

“The course was delicate and long, with a difficult combination at the end,” Delestre analysed the competition afterwards. “You needed a horse that had power and energy, a horse like Cayman. Everything was very delicate, and you had to be cautious everywhere.”

“Cayman is for sure my favourite horse, I think I never rode a horse with such energy and scope,” Delestre continued. “I just try to have him relaxed and follow him, the rest he knows. He is an amazing jumper.”

“For me, I made my plan based on what Scott and Yuri did,” Delestre said about his strategy for the jump-off, where he opted for a safe clear. “Two years ago, I had the fastest time but one down – that was not so comfortable.”

“First of all, I am delighted with Chadora, I think she was absolutely fantastic,” the second placed Brash said. “She jumped incredible. I’m a bit disappointed with my riding in the jump-off, because I know her and I needed one more stride to that vertical, and she is so fast anyway. But when you know Simon is coming behind you and you know him and Cayman are very quick, you put pressure on yourself to try to deliver a quick clear. It just didn’t pay off in the end. I am disappointed with myself but delighted with Chadora, she was fantastic.”

“When there is this calibre of horses and riders coming behind you, you don’t have another plan than to risk,” the third placed Mansur weighed in.

With Delestre as the new live contender, the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping continues at CHIO Aachen in July, followed by Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ in September and CHI Geneva in December. “I understand how hard it is to win one Major, let alone the Rolex Grand Slam,” Brash, who to date is the only rider ever to have won the coveted title, reflected on the season ahead. “It is tough, but anything is possible – and Simon is now on that journey. I think these shows and these venues bring out the best in horses and riders. I also think every show organizer should come to this show and see how it is organized, because it is absolutely fantastic. The riders, the grooms, the horses, the public, the sponsors – I think everyone is well-looked after.”