Text © World of Showjumping

Germany’s Daniel Deusser and the 11-year-old stallion Otello de Guldenboom (Tobago Z x Caretino) saved the best for last to snatch the victory in Sunday’s CSIO5* 1.60m Rolex Grand Prix Ville de La Baule, which concluded the 2025-edition of Jumping International de La Baule – one of seven shows part of the Rolex Series. 

Grégory Bodo (FRA) had as usual built a masterful track for the occasion, consisting of 14 fences. It was a long course which included a double at no. 6ab, the open water at no. 8 followed by six short strides to a delicate Rolex plank at no. 9, while the very last line consisted of a triple bar at no. 12 followed by five strides to the Rolex triple combination at no. 13abc then seven or eight strides to the Barrière oxer at no. 14. Mistakes were made nearly all over the course, but the most challenging was definitely the last part of it – from the water and all the way home, where every single question asked somehow seemed to be connected to the next. In the end, the perfect number of eight of the world-class 50 horse-and-rider combinations at start managed to answer all of Bodo’s questions and delivered clear rounds.

Pedro Veniss (BRA) and Nimrod de Muze Imperio Egipcio (Nabab de Reve x Tinka’s Boy) posted the first clear round and nearly got a standing ovation from the incredible La Baule-crowd for a stunt worthy of Mission Impossible when miraculously clearing the triple combination after having to do some serious stretching to get out over the oxer at no. 13c. 

Eight riders later, a jump-off was secured when Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) and Minute Man (Vigo d’Arsouilles x Montender 2) delivered a clear as well – and while they did not make it as exciting as Veniss, they still had to work to get out of the triple combination. 

Shortly after, Scott Brash (GBR) and his charming and determined chestnut mare Hello Folie (Luidam x Diamant de Semilly) also powered through the course clear to make it three for the jump-off. The number immediately increased to four when McLain Ward (USA) as next to go delivered one of his signature rounds, making the course look easy aboard Imperial HBF (Glasgow vh Merelsnest x Original VDL). 

Riccardo Pisani (ITA) was the fifth to go clear, and did it beautifully, riding the lovely Chatolinue PS (Diablo Blanco x Stakkatol). Eventually, another three horse-and-rider combinations joined in for the jump-off: Richard Vogel (GER) and the only 9-year-old Levi Noesar (VDL Zirocco Blue x Baloubet du Rouet), Rene Lopez Lizarazo (COL) and Londina (London x Chacco-Blue), as well as Daniel Deusser (GER) and Otello de Guldenboom. 

With Bodo making use of the whole arena at the François André Stadium, the jump-off consisted of mostly long stretches which left the riders with the option to leave strides out to save time. As pathfinders, Pedro Veniss and Nimrod de Muze Imperio Egipcio put pressure on those to come with a clear round in 39.77 seconds – however, it did not look impossible to improve the time. Next in the ring, Henrik von Eckermann had to see two poles fall to the ground – dropping down on the result list. Scott Brash was well up on the clock, but came a bit deep on the third last oxer with Hello Folie clipping the front rail – putting them on four faults in 40.91 seconds. 

McLain Ward was next in the ring, and the American style icon put all his experience to good use in his relatively new partnership with Imperial HBF to bring the time down to 39.17 seconds – leaving strides out already from the first fence, while making it look effortless. As next to go, Riccardo Pisani had to see the back rail on the a-element of the double fall to the ground slotting in behind Brash in 41.29 seconds. Richard Vogel copied Ward’s plan, but unfortunately clipped two rails along the way on his young gelding that holds great promise for the future. 

What Rene Lopez Lizarazo perhaps sacrificed in terms of style during his jump-off, he made up for in terms of speed – and also in support from the crowds, as he is considered almost as a home rider after being based in France for decades. Racing towards the last line, he was cheered on by the audience who was watching the clock as he went. Crossing the timers, the popular Colombian rider had managed to better the time to beat to 38.36 seconds and it went wild at the François André Stadium. 

It all came down to Daniel Deusser and Otello de Guldenboom who entered the ring as last to go. With a reputation as one of the fastest riders on the circuit, Deusser knew what had to be done and took all the risk to cross the finish line in an incredible 37.22 seconds to receive immediate celebration and standing ovation from the fantastic audience in La Baule – who makes this show so emotional, incredible and unique. Lopez Lizarazo had to settle for second, Ward for third, Veniss for fourth and Brash for fifth.

“My advantage was that I was last to go, so I knew what I had to do,” Deusser said. “At the beginning of the jump-off I was really doubting a little bit about the strides between no. 1-2 and also into the double. But when I saw McLain there was actually not so much to doubt about anymore, you had to do one stride less to the double and you had to try to leave as many strides out as possible. I'm very, very happy and delighted that my horse thought the same way as what I wanted to do and followed me.” 

“It's a fantastic day for everybody, but for me especially. We bought Otello three years ago and you always have an idea or a vision about what horses could do but they still have to perform, they still have to develop and at the end also deliver a little bit. Otello already had a couple of wins in smaller classes up to 1.50m over the last few months, but this is the first five-star Grand Prix he wins and that of course makes the whole team very proud,” Deusser – who rides for Stephan Conter's Stephex Stables – smiled from ear to ear after his victory.