The winning pair crossed the timers in 41.27 seconds. This victory marks a significant progression for the duo, who just last month finished in the top five of the 1.60m Grand Prix at the Saut Hermès in Paris.

"He Knows Exactly What To Do"

Reflecting on his win, a delighted Thibeau Spits admitted he wasn't entirely sure what to expect heading into the weekend: "I didn’t really know what to expect. After Paris, he had some time off for breeding duties, so he was a bit fresh and not very focused initially. I was already happy just to qualify for the Grand Prix. But today, he was much calmer. He is a horse that knows exactly what he has to do, and he jumped magnificently."

Regarding the tension of the jump-off, Spits added: "I wasn't sure if my time would be fast enough with the competitors still to come. Fortunately, I managed the double clear. The World Championships remain a major goal for this year, and results like today certainly help. I think I have a good chance of being there and achieving a strong result."

The Leaderboard

While Spits took the win on penalties, the fastest time of the day actually belonged to Martin Fuchs. Aboard Conner Jei (by Connor), the Swiss maestro clocked a blistering 39.95 seconds, but a single rail relegated him to second place.

The podium was completed by French rider Marie Demonte. Entering the arena as the final challenger, she guided the Selle Français gelding Forban de Beliard (by Upsilon) to a solid third-place finish.

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