Portugal’s Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida claimed top honors in the 1.50m Grand Prix qualifier at the Stuttgart German Masters on Thursday, steering his 11-year-old KWPN mare Karonia.L (by Harley x G-Ramiro Z, bred by Th. Lemmers) to a blistering clear round in 57.11 seconds to secure the €7,125 top prize.
In a competitive speed class where penalties were converted into added seconds, Almeida and Karonia.L, co-owned by Pikaerts B.V. and R.G.A. Sporthorses, set an untouchable benchmark, finishing a full second clear of their nearest rivals.
Sweden’s Peder Fredricson slotted into second place aboard the 12-year-old Zangersheide gelding SV Vroom de la Pomme Z (by Vigo d'Arsouilles Stx x Untouchable, bred by Geert Baertsoen), stopping the clock at 58.11 seconds. Just twelve-hundredths of a second behind him, Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs rounded out the podium in third with his 11-year-old Selle Français gelding Fave d'Authuit (by Cornet Obolensky x Kannan), crossing the finish line fault-free in 58.23 seconds.
Brazilian veteran Yuri Mansur delivered a strong performance with his longtime 18-year-old Hannoverian partner Vitiki (by Valentino x For Expo) to take fourth in 58.71 seconds, while German maestro Marcus Ehning completed the top five on the 11-year-old Hannoverian mare Baloubets Rose Dree Boeken (by Baloubet du Rouet x Darco) in 59.24 seconds.