“It’s always great to start an important weekend with a positive feeling,” Vogel said afterward. “The Dutch Masters is a very significant event for us, and we always try to compete here with our best horses. Diamant de Casall is still relatively new to our stable, so we don’t have much competition experience together yet. He jumped very well in Basel earlier this year, and it’s wonderful to continue that momentum here. Hopefully, this is a good omen for the rest of the weekend.”

The German rider is setting his sights on Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix, where he plans to compete with his top horse, United Touch S. Additionally, Vogel will be back in action tonight during the HeadFirst Group Best of Champions.

Raijmakers Second to Vogel Once Again

For a long time, victory seemed destined for Piet Raijmakers Jr. The Dutchman clocked a sharp time with For Freedom EKT, but ultimately—just like last year—he had to settle for second place behind Vogel. Frenchman Simon Delestre, winner of the 2025 Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters, finished third.

They were followed by a strong Dutch contingent, with Bas Moerings, Mans Thijssen, and Hessel Hoekstra taking fourth, fifth, and sixth place, respectively.

Kent Farrington Saves His Aces

For Kent Farrington, the opening class was primarily about preparation. The winner of the Rolex Grand Slam in Geneva rode his twelve-year-old mare, Toulayna, composedly through the course to let her acclimate to the main arena of The Dutch Masters.

“One horse, one class, one goal,” said the American, who remains a contender for the Rolex Grand Slam. “Toulayna was still competing in Florida last week, so she’s in a good rhythm. Today was mainly about getting her used to the ring. We want to save her energy for Sunday.”

Looking ahead to the Rolex Grand Prix, Farrington knows the competition is fierce: “Everyone here is at the absolute top. The level is always high, but of course, we hope to contend for the win once again.”

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