Germany's Hans-Dieter Dreher and the 15-year-old gelding Vestmalle des Cotis (Baloubet du Rouet x Landor S) won Thursday's CSI5*-W 1.50m Prize of Firma XXL-Sicherheit – counting for the Longines Rankings Group D – om home soil at the 38th edition of Stuttgart German Masters in the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle.

With a time of 63.56 seconds, the German rider beat the current world number one Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) and the 11-year-old mare Calizi (Cellestial x Stakkatol), who had to settle for the runner-up spot after clocking a time of 64.87, followed by Peder Fredricson (SWE) and Catch Me Not S (Cardento x Ramiro's Son) in third in 65.38.

Giulia Martinengo Marquet (ITA) and Scuderia 1918 Calle Deluxe (Cesano x Con Air) finished fourth with a time of 65.57 seconds, while Jörne Sprehe (GER) and Toys (Toulon x Quidam de Revel) completed the top five after stopping the clock on 65.72. 

“We jumped a good round, Vestmalle was in a great mood today,” Dreher said in a press release from Stuttgart German Masters. “We got a little lucky in our sharp turn around the corner; we were heading for the six, but in the end everything stayed put." 

The twelve best pairs from Thursday's Prize of Firma XXL-Sicherheit and from Friday's Prize of the Outletcity Metzingen qualify for Friday night's traditional German Masters competition.