Edited press release from Royal Windsor Horse Show

Friday's feature class at Royal Windsor Horse Show, The Pearl Stakes, was a CSI5* 1.55m jump-off competition featuring some of the best horses and riders in the world. 

Daniel Deusser (GER) and Bingo Ste Hermelle (Number One d'Iso x Diamant de Semilly) set the pace as third to go, with the first double clear in a time of 36.32. Bernardo Costa Cabral’s course proved challenging, with many riders accruing faults when trying to catch Deusser. Jos Velooy (BEL) came closest with Luciano van het Geinsteinde (Quinn van de Heffinck x Air Jordan), posting a time of 37.46. John Whitaker (GBR) showed his experience to go into third with just two left to go aboard Equine America Unick du Francport (Zandor x Helios de La Cour II), however no-one was able to match Deusser’s performance, leaving the German to take the spoils.   

Speaking after the class, Deusser said: “Royal Windsor Horse Show is a fantastic event, it is a great feeling to be standing here as the winner in front of such a big crowd and with Windsor Castle in the background. Bingo Ste Hermelle is a small and nimble horse, so I can go very fast in the jump-off. I will give him tomorrow off in preparation for the Rolex Grand Prix on Sunday. I think if I make it to the jump-off on Sunday then we have a very good chance of winning!”