On Saturday evening Austria's Max Kühner charmed the Dutch crowd at the Dutch Masters in 's Hertogenbosch...
Max is enjoying an outstanding season with his horses so far. Tonight it was up to Up Too Jacco Blue to get the job done with him. “I knew that the times of Victor Bettendorf and Hendrik von Eckermann were incredibly sharp, so we couldn't miss a stride. That didn't happen. Up Too Jacco Blue was sharp and fast, but he stayed with me. I could stay on it and really enjoyed the jump-off."
Drama queen with focus
Max still had to settle for a covid-proof arena in 2021 while winning the Rolex Grand Prix. Tonight, he got to receive his applause in a sold-out hall. The rider is happy with the progression his gelding continues to make. "It is a horse with a lot of blood, in the third generation there is English thoroughbred. That sharpness definitely helps him in the sport, but it also makes him a bit of a drama queen sometimes. He is getting better at dealing with it, with every competition he takes a step forward. So far, he is holding that upward trend well. The drama is still there from time to time, but then he regains his focus and stays very much on track. Whether he will ever stand still at an award ceremony, I dare not hope, but gaining experience is visibly doing him good. That was shown again tonight."
source: The Dutch Masters