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

Under the lights at the Brussels Stephex Masters 2025, 58 horse-and-rider combinations battled it out in Thursday’s CSIO5* 1.50m presented by Equihome  — the first qualifying opportunity for Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix presented by Audi.

The early clear rounds came from Eduardo Pereira de Menezes (BRA) with Messi’s Whizz Kid PS (Messenger x Carthago) in 71.68, followed by home rider Jos Verlooy (BEL) on Renshaw van’t Meulenhof (Nixon van’T Meulenhof x Vigo d’Arsouilles). Christian Ahlmann (GER) then raised the bar with a lightning-fast clear in 68.86 aboard D’Aganix 2000 Z (Dominator 2000 Z x Aganix du Seigneur), briefly taking over the lead.

But the night kept getting faster. Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi (UAE) and Chacco Bay (Chaccato x Heops) stormed into the lead with an incredible 68.44, before Belgium’s Jérôme Guery delighted the home crowd, guiding Careca LS Elite (Carusso LS La Silla x Rebozo La Silla) to an even quicker time of 67.93 to claim the provisional top spot.

In the end, it was Great Britain’s Olympic champion Ben Maher who proved untouchable. Riding the brilliant Ginger-Blue (Plot Blue x Royal Bravour), he delivered a masterclass of speed and precision, stopping the clock at 66.05 seconds to secure victory, while Guery finished second, Aziz Al Marzooqi third and Ahlmann fourth. Rene Lopez Lizarazo (COL) aboard Londina (London x Chacco-Blue) slotted into fifth in 70.24.