Harrie Smolders (NED) and Escape Z (Emerald x Heartbreaker) won Friday morning’s Stiftelsen Falsterbo Horse Show Prize – a CSIO5* 1.45m class against the clock, at Falsterbo Horse Show in Sweden. After Thursday’s runner-up position it was a very pleased Smolders who took the win after stopping the clock on 63.04 seconds – 0.2 seconds faster than his compatriot Hessel Hoekstra (NED) with Famariloma (Azteca VDL x Ahorn). 

Home rider Evelina Tovek (SWE) pleased the crowds by taking the third place, after stopping the clock on 64.90 seconds with Cortina 212 (Contendro I x Waechter). Three more Swedes followed; Emma Emanuelsson with Canbella Blue PS (Cantolar x Chacco-Blue) in fourth, Malin Baryard-Johnsson with H&M Reventon (Chacco-Blue x Rabino) in fifth and Erika Lickhammer-van Helmond with I.Comme Tessa VHL (Comme Il Faut x Casall) in sixth. 

Later on in the day, it was Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA) and Nikolaj de Music (Kannan x Nabab de Reve) who took the top honours in the CSIO5* 1.45m Agria Trophy – that also counted as a qualification for Saturday’s derby. As last to go, Gaudiano outclassed the rest of the riders when being 3.15 seconds faster than Hessel Hoekstra (NED) with Helsinki (VDL Zirocco Blue x Indoctro) – who was pushed down to the runner-up position. 

Niklas Arvidsson (SWE) and Dagny V (Durrant x Verdi) took the third place ahead of Johnny Pals (NED) with Carlotta (Conthargos x Balou du Rouet) in fourth and Bryan Balsiger (SUI) with Urbanus Z (Ugano Sitte x Voltaire) in fifth.