WELLINGTON, Fla.--Daniel Deusser of Germany rode Scuderia 1918 Tobago Zto a double-clear ride to win the $214,000 Grand Prix CSIO4* on Sunday, March 7 at the Winter Equestrian Festival.
Daniel Duesser on Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z (Photo by Sportfot)A total of 50 entries including six of the top 12 riders in the world, competed over the track set by Steve Stephens and Nick Granat, with eight returning for the jump-off.
Sixth in the jump-off, Deusser shaved nearly a second off the leading time, finishing in 36.45 seconds.
“To be honest, I only saw Andre Thieme on his way to the last jump,” said Deusser of the man holding the lead before he entered the ring. “I didn’t really get to see what kind of strides he did everywhere. I had already put together my plan. I know he is very good in short turns to the vertical like jump number three. I think maybe there I left one out and had a good turn to the double too, and he was pretty smooth down the straight lines, so I think I had quite a good jump-off.”
Thieme, also of Germany, on Chakaria, placed second, clean in 37.49 seconds.
“THIS IS my number one horse, and I took my time with her the last few years because I realized pretty early on what I had with her,” said Thieme. “She’s pretty special in every way ,and now slowly we’ve been working on going faster. My problem with her was that she was always a bit too cranky in the turns, but now I’ve had very good results over the last year, and she’s getting quicker and quicker. Today I thought maybe it would be enough, then realized to the last jump I had to do one more stride, and of course someone like Daniel uses that chance right away. I’m a little bit disappointed with myself, but I’m very happy with my horse."
A fairly new partnership was successful as 23-year-old Teddy Vlock, riding for Israel, on Amsterdam 27, was clean in 37.91 seconds to place third.
“I couldn’t possibly be more excited,” said Vlock. “He is an amazing horse, and I’ve only ridden him in about four shows now. Every time I get him in [the ring], I learn something new about him and it’s a very good partnership so I’m ecstatic.”
“Today I think I understood more," he said. "I’m fortunate to have other horses I’ve had longer partnerships with that are the same caliber as him, but they go a little bit different. I have learned what place to put him in and how to ride the horse to give him the best chance of jumping clear. As a less experienced rider than these guys, Deusser and Thieme, it takes me a little bit longer to figure it out. I’m so happy with everything today.”
Deusser continues to rack up wins at WEF, having also won on ‘Tobi’ in the WEF Challenge Cup during WEF 7.
“I’ve been spoiled already,” said Deusser. “He had a bit of time off last year and came back end of season last year which was already not a perfect time because of COVID, but to be honest every competition he went to he came back with good results. He did his last competition in December and has had basically two months off. I think he even enjoyed the time without me at home.
“He’s been my number one horse for a long time,” said Deusser, “and he knows exactly when he has to show up. In the warmup ring he’s pretty quiet, but he comes in the ring and he knows what to do.”
Prior to the jump-off, the Kate Nash Boone Style Award was presented to Jessica Springsteen of Colts Neck, N.J.
Springsten was selected by a judges panel, stewards, and ringmaster as the international equestrian who exemplified the best style of riding along with maintaining a sportsmanlike composure while competing in the CSIO at WEF.
