Text © World of Showjumping

The Dutch Masters 2022 concluded on Sunday with the first Major of the year in the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, the CSI5* 1.60m Rolex Grand Prix, and it was Germany's Daniel Deusser on the incredible Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z that could celebrate the second Major victory of his career – moving on to CHIO Aachen as the new live contender of the series. 

With 38 of the very best horse-and-rider combinations in the world present at the Brabanthallen in s'Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, course designer Louis Konicxk (NED) was up for a challenge. The course set at 1.60m counted 13 obstacles and 17 efforts, and twelve pairs managed to answer all the questions asked: The first one to deliver a clear round was last year's winner at The Dutch Masters, Max Kühner (AUT) on the 10-year-old EIC Coriolis Des Isles (Zandor x Tlaloc M), followed by Harrie Smolders (NED) on the 13-year-old Monaco (Cassini II x Contender) – a pair that took the runner-up position in the Rolex Grand Prix in Geneva in December 2021.

Raising the roof in Brabanthallen, Jack Ansems (NED) on Fliere Fluiter (VDL Zirocco Blue x Animo) left the fences intact, as did Marlon Modolo Zanotelli (BRA) on Grand Slam VDL (Cardento 933 x Heartbreaker), Pieter Devos (BEL) on Claire Z (Clearway x Coronado) and Hilary Scott (AUS) on Oaks Milky Way (Clearway x Jalisco B). Germany's Daniel Deusser (GER) – winner of the Rolex Grand Prix in Aachen last summer – on Scuderia Tobago Z (Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve x Mr. Blue) made light work of the first round track, joining Bart Bles (NED) on Kriskras DV (Cooper van de Heffinck x Kashmir van Schuttershof), Scott Brash (GBR) on Hello Jefferson (Cooper van de Heffinck x Irco Mena), Christian Kukuk (GER) on Checker 47 (Comme Il Faut x Come On), Marcus Ehning (GER) on Stargold (Stakkato Gold x Lord Weingard) and Willem Greve (NED) on Grandorado TN (Eldorado v. Zeshoek x Carolus II) in the deciding jump-off. 

The Rolex live contender, Martin Fuchs (SUI) – who won the Rolex Grand Prix in Geneva in December with Leone Jei – opted for Conner Jei (Connor 48 x Cosimo) in s'Hertogenbosch. As the very last pair to go in the first round, Fuchs retired after a pole down – leaving the battle in the jump-off to twelve horse-and-rider combinations.

Harrie Smolders was keen to better his position from Geneva and gave it his best shot in the jump-off, stopping the clock on 38.03 seconds, putting pressure on those to follow. However, Daniel Deusser on Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z managed to shave fractions off Smolders' leading time, pushing him down to runner-up position when crossing the finish line in 37.90 seconds. As last to go, Willem Greve got close but had to settle for the third place behind Deusser and Smolders with an excellent clear round in a time of 38.40. While Deusser could celebrate his second Major victory, Smolders once more had to settle for second, while Greve placed third, Bles fourth and Devos fifth. 

"Of course, I saw Harrie before me," Deusser said about his plan for the jump-off. "I walked the line from one to two in the jump-off and also to the second last jump, and I was thinking that it would be possible to do eight strides in the end. A couple of horses did nine there, so I had some doubts if I would actually be able to do the eight – but when I went into the ring, I thought 'ok, if you want to stick to your plan, you do as you walked and don't care about what the others did.' I gave it a try, and it worked out; Tobago did a fantastic job. He was really excited going to the jump-off, he is a fantastic horse." 

"Is there a bonus for the one who is second all the time," Smolders – who placed as runner-up in the Rolex Grand Prix in Geneva last December – joked. "I had an early draw and with twelve clears, I knew I left a little gap with so many fast and good horses behind me. At the end, I am very happy with the second place, we were very close. I think we have seen top sport again today, twelve clears was a perfect number and I think our horses were amazing again." 

"My horse is very playful and fresh, and he has a huge stride," third placed Greve said. "In the first round I always have to try and manage his power, because there were some steady lines left and right. I wanted to keep everything together, which worked out perfectly. For me, the jump-off went perfectly, and his huge stride was a benefit. I had a long distance to the last, but my horse was really helpful, he covered and did the turns really well. I am very proud of him: I have produced him since he was three-and-a-half, and always believed in him.”

For Deusser, Sunday's victory means that he yet again is a live contender ahead of the second Rolex Grand Slam Major of the year at CHIO Aachen in July – where the German rider also is the title defender after winning the Rolex Grand Prix on home soil last year.