Germany's Daniel Deusser wins $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix, FAU grad Bluman second - Palm Beach Post

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Sharon Robb  |  Special to The Post

WELLINGTON — Germany's Daniel Deusser, the most dominant rider at the Winter Equestrian Festival, won his first $500,000 FEI Rolex Grand Prix Saturday at the windswept grassy Stadium Derby Field at Equestrian Village.

Deusser, 39, and his 13-year-old Zangersheide, Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z, were flawless in the opening round and eight-rider jump-off winning in 36.40 seconds. He pocketed $165,000 and a Rolex watch, his biggest payday on the circuit.

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It was Deusser's seventh win at WEF, including his fourth five-star event.

"It was a little bit in my favor today that I had to start second to last in the first round and last in the jump-off," said the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist who's ranked third in the world.

"I knew exactly what I had to do. And in the end, I have to say once it works out and the horse jumps how he jumps, it was not too difficult."

Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z, owned by Stephex Stables and Scuderia 1918, was competing in his biggest class of the season. He was injured in 2019 but recovered and resumed competing at the end of 2020.

"Tobago has been my best horse for years," Deusser said. "He has won many grand prix classes and also he really likes big grass arenas. He was in very, very good shape already the last couple of weeks here. He kept his form and performed great."

Two-time Olympian Daniel Bluman of Israel, a Florida Atlantic University and Weston Cypress Bay alum, and his 10-year-old mount Gemma W, were second in 36.54 and won $100,000.

Bluman, the 2012 Rolex champion, was leading with defending champion McLain Ward and Deusser left to go in the jump-off.

"I'm not going to say that I am surprised that Daniel beat me," Bluman said. "He is a little bit of a pain for us when he shows up because he is on a different level. You have to say it how it is. We have to keep working to be able to ride the way that he rides."

Bluman said there were a couple places on the course he could have saved time.

"But realistically I know that whatever I did, McLain and Daniel were going to follow just as fast or faster. My strategy was to put in a good time and then put enough pressure that they had to take risks."

Harrie Smolders, 40, of the Netherlands and 10-year-old Selle Francais gelding Bingo Du Parc were third in 36.74 and won $75,000.

"He did a fantastic job," Smolders said. "It was a serious test for him. I think we have seen several horse-rider combinations that we will see back in the Olympics."

Ward, looking for his fifth Rolex, and Contagious were fourth in 34.94 with four faults and won $50,000. Olympic hopeful Jessica Springsteen and Don Juan Van De Donkhoeve were fifth in 37.21 with four faults for $30,000.

Held for the first time in event history on the grassy field, a star-studded lineup of 40 starters featured 17 Olympians from 14 nations and four of the world's Top 10 riders, including No. 2 Martin Fuchs.

The oldest rider and horse in the field, hometown favorite Margie Engle, 62, and Royce, 17, were 30th in 86.53 with eight faults in the opening round. Earlier this week, it was announced the Olympic veteran and 2018 Rolex winner will be inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Class of 2020 in May at Devon.

Olympian and 2011 Rolex winner Laura Kraut, sidelined for four weeks with a broken collarbone, returned with Confu and finished 27th in 86.15 with eight faults.

On Thursday, Ashlee Bond of Israel and Donatello 141 topped a field of 55 riders in the opening round and 14 in the jump-off to win the $137,000 Adequan WEF Challenge Cup on the Derby Field. The pair finished in 40.29 seconds.

The 12th and final major WEF event of the season, the $214,000 FEI CSI4 Wellington Ag Services Grand Prix, will be he Saturday at 8 a.m. in the International Arena.

The equestrian competitions will remain closed to spectators but will be live streamed for free throughout the week at www.PBIEC.com.

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March 29, 2021 at 12:33AM
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Germany's Daniel Deusser wins $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix, FAU grad Bluman second - Palm Beach Post

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