Germany’s Daniel Deusser wins Grand Prix at 2017 Longines Masters of Paris

In the prestigious Grand Prix’s tie-breaking jump-off, the 36-year-old and his 14-year-old grey gelding raced over the 1.60 m obstacles with no rails down in 37.95 seconds, topping a group of 12 horse-and-rider pairs. With several thousand spectators looking on, including from the lamp-lit tables lining one side of the arena, France’s Simon Delestre and Hermes Ryan were runners-up in the competition, finishing in 38.08 seconds and collecting a paycheque of €60,000. American Olympian Lauren Hough and her 13-year-old mare Ohlala were third, also riding clear in 38.62 seconds — good for €45,000.

“I have to say, I was not expecting this,” World No.14 Deusser said afterwards. “Cornet was in good form and I was happy with the round but I thought there were some very fast combinations after me and probably I would be second or third. But I am not complaining! This is a great show, my family have all come, and we have spent some time in the city. It has been great and it is super to have this horse back to his best.”

At the massive Parc des Expositions site, where the Paris Horse Show took place over the course of last week before culminating in the Masters event, crowds of fans lined the neighbouring indoor paddock Sunday as top riders in the sport — including France’s Kevin Staut on Reveur de Hurtebise HDC, Canada’s Eric Lamaze on Fine Lady 5, the United States’ Laura Kraut on Deauville S, and Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat on Hannah — warmed up before making the solo trip into the ring. But for many, a tiny error proved to be the difference on the Louis Konickx-designed course, keeping them out of the final round. And while he did make it through to the last group, World No.1 Kent Farrington of the United States was knocked out of contention when his mount Creedance balked at an obstacle after a speedy start to their ride.

With this victory in this first stage of the Indoor Grand Slam of Show Jumping, Deusser has also opened to himself the possibility of two potentially huge Grand Slam bonuses: the Super Grand Slam, €2.25 million for winning three consecutive Longines Grand Prix in the same season (Paris, followed by Hong Kong and then New York) or the Grand Slam (€1 million for three successive victories in the Longines Grand Prix from one season to the next, (e.g., Hong Kong > New York > Paris, or New York > Paris > Hong Kong).