Press release from Rolex Series Equestrian, edited by World of Showjumping

On Saturday, August 30, the Stephex Arena hosted the CSIO5* 1.50m presented by Audi, a Table A with jump-off, the final qualifying opportunity for Sunday’s highly anticipated Rolex Grand Prix presented by Audi. From 55 starters, 11 horse-and-rider combinations advanced to the jump-off, setting the stage for a dramatic evening at the Brussels Stephex Masters 2025.

It was Great Britain’s Scott Brash who opened the class with a flawless round aboard Hello Folie (Luidam x Diamant de Semilly), immediately setting the tone and booking a place in the jump-off. Clear rounds followed from Piergiorgio Bucci (ITA) and Hantano (Quasimodo Z x Numero Uno), Martin Fuchs (SUI) on L&L Lorde (Clyde LVB Z x Elan de La Cour), Ben Maher (GBR) and Ginger-Blue (Plot Blue x Royal Bravour), the rising French star Nina Mallevaey and Destine To Be (Diamant de Semilly x Grandilot), the defending Rolex Grand Prix winner José María Larocca (ARG) on Abril Iconthon (Conthargos x Clinton), Nadja Peter Steiner (SUI) and Nice Van'T Zorgvliet (Emerald x Heartbreaker), Pieter Devos (BEL) aboard Panamarenka van den Blauwaert (For Passion d'Ive Z x I'Am Moerhoeve's Star), Niels Bruynseels (BEL) on Chacco’s Lando OL (Chacco-Blue x Lando), Luke Dee (NZL) on Gangster WW (Grand Slam x Kannan) as well as Gerrit Nieberg (GER) aboard Ib Queen (Quasimodo Z x Whistler).

The jump-off proved just as thrilling as the first round. Brash and Hello Folie delivered a stylish clear in 44.43 seconds, but was soon overtaken by Martin Fuchs, who stopped the clock on 42.84 with L&L Lorde. But then came Ben Maher with his trusted mare Ginger-Blue — producing a masterful round in 42.28 seconds to take the lead.

However, the challenge wasn’t over. Nina Mallevaey and Destine To Be gave a sensational effort in 42.75 to move into second, before Nadja Peter Steiner and Nice van’t Zorgvliet went even quicker in 42.57, slotting into the runner-up spot and pushing the French duo down to third. José María Larocca saw his hopes dashed with a rail down, while home favourites Pieter Devos and Niels Bruynseels each collected 4 penalties. Closing the evening, Gerrit Nieberg and Ib Queen posted a steady clear, but a time of 44.18 placed them seventh overall.

In the end, it was Ben Maher and Ginger-Blue who proved untouchable, securing the victory in front of an electric Brussels crowd. Peter Steiner took the runner-up spot, followed by Mallevaey in third, Fuchs in fourth and Brash in fifth.