Coming in towards the very end of the class, it was Belgium's Niels Bruynseels and the 10-year-old mare Lady Cracotte (Quaprice x Galoubet A) that won Thursday's STAWAG-Prize in Aachen.

It went faster and faster in this 1.50m competition against the clock, and with only eight riders left it was Bruynseels – winner of the Major at the Dutch Masters back in March – that snatched the victory on the feisty chestnut mare when producing a lightning fast round in 61.48 seconds. 

With his performance, Bruynseels pushed Italy's Lorenzo De Luca and Limestone Grey (Try-Time x breeding unknown) down to second with their time of 62.10 – and also home hero Marcus Ehning and Firth of Lorne (For Pleasure x Stakkato) to third after they had taken over the top two positions a few riders earlier.

Dutch rider Frank Schuttert finished fourth, and Germany's own Ludger Beerbaum fifth.