“The atmosphere here in the Festhalle Frankfurt is a very special one," Philip Rüping – from Paul Schockemöhle's stables – said after winning Saturday’s CSI4* 1.50m CEE Champions Cup at the Internationales Festhallen Reitturnier Frankfurt.

With the 12-year-old stallion Baloutaire PS (Balou du Rouet x Chacco-Blue), Philip Rüping raced through the jump-off course flawlessly in 39 seconds. 18 riders had qualified for the jump-off in this 1.50m class that also counted as the second qualifier for Sunday's Grand Prix; Frank Rothenberger had designed an extremely fair course that was easy to ride. In the jump-off itself, only five pairs remained clear – and none were as fast as Rüping.

“Baloutaire was bred by Paul at Gestüt Lewitz and he is also a very popular breeding stallion here, so his success makes Paul’s breeder-heart beat faster,” Rüping said in a press release. “On the first day Baloutaire was a bit shy in the arena, but he quickly acclimatized, and he is a very fast horse. If I execute my round fairly well in a jump-off, I'm always doing well.”

The Champions Cup on Saturday was also the second qualification for the Hesse Grand Prix on Sunday. “I just discussed my plan for tomorrow with my coach Andreas Kreuzer, but we haven't quite come to an agreement yet," smiled the winner. "Baloutaire did two great rounds today, yesterday Chatolinue jumped very well in the big tour.”

Graham Gillespie (GBR) and Veneno (Chacco-Blue x Baloubet du Rouet), another Gestüt Lewitz-bred horse, finished second with a time of 40.77 in the jump-off. Three German riders completed the top five: Daniel Lahmann in third with Monty Python de l'Amitie (Emerald van het Ruytershof x Mr. Blue), Pia Reich with PB Löwenherz (Levisto x Contender) in fourth and Tim Rieskamp-Goedeking with IB Qualita (Quaid I x Salito) in fifth.