Text © World of Showjumping

Germany's Daniel Deusser and the 12-year-old Bingo Ste Hermelle took the top honours in Friday's highlight at the 2023-edition of CSI5*-W Jumping Amsterdam, the 1.50m Telegraaf Prize – a qualifier for Saturday's Grand Prix.

With 45 horses and riders at start, the first-round track set by Quintin Maertens (NED) and Louis Konickx (NED) reflected the quality of the participants. "To be honest, when we walked the course, I thought it was difficult enough, or maybe even too difficult for the first day," Deusser said about the track. "Not that it was too high, but it was really into the corner, out of the corner, there was a triple combination at the end – I think it was tough enough. However, in the end we had twelve clear rounds, so the result was actually very good."

As the second pair out in round one, Germany's Hans-Dieter Dreher and Elysium (VDL Zirocco Blue x Coronado) posted the first clear round of the evening, and it took until starter number fourteen before a jump-off was secured as Sweden's current world number one Henrik von Eckermann and Glamour Girl (VDL Zirocco Blue x Caletto I) left all the fences intact. Right after von Eckermann, German legend Marcus Ehning showed everyone how it's done, jumping an effortless clear aboard Priam du Roset (Plot Blue x Tanael du Serein). Ireland's Conor Drain and Imagine (Cassini Gold x Lord Z) followed suit, and to the joy of the enthusiastic crowd at RAI Amsterdam, so did Eric van der Vleuten (NED) and Dreamland (Sunday de Riverland x For Pleasure). Marlon Modolo Zanotelli (BRA) and Grand Slam VDL (Cardento x Heartbreaker), Eduardo Alvarez Aznar (ESP) and Bentley de Sury (Sunday de Riverland x Calvaro), Simon Delestre (FRA) and Dexter Fontenis Z (Diarado x Voltaire), Harrie Smolders (NED) and Dolinn (Cardento x Lux), Kevin Staut (FRA) and Scuderia 1918 Viking d'La Rousserie (Quaprice Bois Margot x Apache d'Adriers), Daniel Deusser (GER) and Bingo Ste Hermelle (Number One d'Iso x Diamant de Semilly) and Annelies Vorsselmans (NED) aboad Kurly v/d Gorten (Thunder vd Zuuthoeve x Celano), joined in as well, making it a jump-off of twelve.

In the jump-off, Dreher took an early lead with a time of 44.03 and it took until the second-last pair, Deusser and Bingo Ste Hermelle, before he was overtaken. Crossing the finish line in 41.81, Deusser took home the win, pushing his compatriot Dreher to the runner-up position. Alvarez Aznar and Bentley de Sury took the third place with a double clear in 44.60, while van der Vleuten finished fourth in 45.22 and Ehning fifth in 45.99. 

"Bingo is a fast horse, so I wanted to try a little bit," Deusser said about his plan for the jump-off. "I came a little bit deep on number one and did not have the best start from one to two, but then towards the end I had good, forward distances, so I knew I would be fast enough – but to be over two seconds faster, that I did not expect!"

"When I first tried Bingo, it was not that he gave me the feeling that he has all the scope, but our experience in the ring shows that he actually fights for it – he gets more scope out of the rhythm. Over the last two years, he has been a very competitive horse for me," Deusser told about his winning mount.

"It is cool here," Deusser said about the great atmosphere in Amsterdam. "This is one of the shows and cities where you feel that the people are really coming for the sport, and really enjoy it. They are behind all the riders." 

The CSI5*-W 1.45m Heineken 0.0 Prize went to France's Julien Epaillard, the current world number three. Riding the 10-year-old Dubai du Cedre (Baloubet du Rouet x Diamant de Semilly), Epaillard took the win with a time of 23.09 in the second phase, ahead of Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA) and Chaccobeto (Chacco-Blue x Baloubet du Rouet) in the runner-up position in 23.22.

Sanne Thijssen (NED) and Clarima (Clarimo x Quintero) took the third spot, while Jana Wargers (GER) and Deesse de Coquerie (Consul Di Vie Z x Papillon Rouge) finished fourth and Frank Schuttert (NED) fifth aboard Hero (Cantos x BMC Kigali)