Thieme and his 13-year-old DSP Chakaria (Chap) were just no two seconds faster as Maria Gabriela Brugal Gassio and her 11-year-old J'Adore Flamenco (Je T'Aime Flamenco). The grey gelding was earlier competed by Greg Patrick Broderick. The pair referred Brasil's Santiago Lambre to the third spot.

Lambre completed the stage aboard his trusted 16-year-old Chacco-Blue II (Chacco-Blue). Last month Lambre conquered at the WEF in Wellington, now advancing on USA's Hunter Holloway and Eastern Jam (LExicon). The top five of this 1.60m class was completed by Norway's Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen and the 9-year-old sBs-gelding, It's Me des Saules (Best of Nec).