Text © World of Showjumping

The five-star action at the 2024-edition of Jumping Amsterdam got underway on Friday with a German win in the CSI5*-W 1.50m De Telegraaf Prize, as Marcus Ehning and the 13-year-old stallion Stargold (Stakkato Gold x Lord Weingard, bred by Gestüt Sprehe GmbH) took the top honours as the last pair out in a jump-off of thirteen. 

Counting for the Longines Ranking Group C, the class had 46 horse-and-rider-combinations at start with some of the world's best present in the Dutch capital. Stopping the clock on 34.45 seconds, Ehning and his Aachen Grand Prix-winner Stargold snatched the win from home hero Harrie Smolders and his 12-year-old Escape Z (Emerald x Heartbreaker, bred by W. van Hoof & Y. Copal) who had to settle for the runner-up spot with their time of 35.45. 

"He is a good boy and made it easy for me," Ehning told World of Showjumping after his victory in Amsterdam. 

Marc Houtzager (NED) and Sterrehof's Dante (Canturano x Phin-Phin, bred by J.W.J. Soeter) placed third in 35.76, while the fourth place went to Henk Frederiks (NED) and Impian D (VDL Bubalu x Lux Z, bred by H.K. van Doorn) in 37.57 and fifth to Kevin Jochems (NED) aboard Casillas van de Helle (Casall x San Patrignano Corrado, bred by Dr. Konrad Bartjen) in 37.71 – making it a great evening for the hosts. 

Earlier in the evening, France's Julien Anquetin and Farah Tame (Quadrio Tame x Panama Tame, bred by S.N.C. Brohier) won the CSI5*-W 1.45m Stal van de Haar Prize, a class counting for the Longines Ranking Group D.

With a time of 23.21 in the second phase, Anquetin took the win ahead of Gilles Thomas (BEL) and Feromas van Beek Z (Fantomas de Muze x Tangelo vd Zuuthoeve, bred by 't Eirbissemhof) in second in 23.37, followed by Marlon Modolo Zanotelli (BRA) and Cornest (Balou du Reventon x Stakkatol, bred by Gestüt Lewitz/Paul Schockemöhle) in third in 23.54.