“This is a Dream Come True”
José Maria Larocca, riding Finn Lente, became the first Argentinian in 50 years to win a 5* Grand Prix. And he picked the perfect location for his victory: the Brussels Stephex Masters. Argentinians certainly have good taste. Last year, Larocca also made an attempt but finished in second place, just behind then-Olympic champion Ben Maher. He wasn’t going to let that happen again. This time, he raced to victory, beating his two idols in the process. Steve Guerdat took second place, and Peder Fredricson came in third.
Three Times 42 Seconds
In the Rolex Grand Prix of Brussels, the top 12 from the first round returned for the second round. Peder Fredricson (riding Alcapone des Carmille) was the first to complete a second clear round. The Swede held the lead until vice-Olympic champion Steve Guerdat (riding Dynamix du Belheme) galloped through the finish half a second faster, taking the lead.
José Maria Larocca had carefully studied the rounds of the two clear riders before him and took all the risks, finishing 0.07 seconds faster than Steve Guerdat to claim the Rolex and Audi prizes.
Peder Fredricson: “I’m Happy to Take Home Bronze”
Only the top three riders managed to finish clear, all within 42 seconds. The difference came down to fractions of a second. Peder Fredricson, who won both the Rolex GP at Knokke Hippique and the Brussels Stephex Masters two years ago, was satisfied with his third place this time: “I’ve been riding Alcapone for a year now, and in a 5* GP jump-off, everything needs to be perfectly in tune. I’m happy with how we performed. I went early in the second round, and in hindsight, there’s always room for improvement. I now know that I could have taken one less stride, but maybe I wouldn’t have gone clear then? I’m a good sport and happy to take home bronze,” concluded Fredricson.
Steve Guerdat: “José Maria Larocca Deserves This Win”
Steve Guerdat became European champion last year with Dynamix du Belheme. “This is my horse for Paris,” he said at the time. And in Paris, he became the vice-Olympic champion. Throughout, the focus was on the Olympics, and Dynamix barely touched a rail. “I thought about giving her a rest, but Stephan Conter insisted, and you can’t say no to that,” Guerdat smiled. “And now, I’m glad I accepted his invitation. As a Rolex ambassador, you don’t want to miss these competitions. They uphold the highest standards, both in and out of the sport. This was also Dynamix’s first competition after the Olympics, and she was well-rested. It was a close call in the second round, but that’s the nature of the sport, and I’m happy for José Maria Larocca.”
José Maria Larocca: “Winning Against My Idols Steve and Peder”
Olympian José Maria Larocca was over the moon, and it showed. As the winner, he sat between Guerdat and Fredricson at the press conference. “Between my two idols,” the Argentinian beamed. “Do you know how honored I feel? I’ve looked up to these two masters of our sport my whole life. And now, here in Brussels, for the first time in my life, I’ve won a 5* GP. That alone is a dream come true. To win against Steve and Peder makes it even more surreal. There couldn’t be a better place to win my first 5* than here at the Stephex Masters, and against such superstars,” Larocca laughed. The fairy tale of his horse Finn Lente also began in Wolvertem, as Stephan Conter discovered him as a young horse.
Top Belgian Koen Vereecke: “A Costly Rail”
Koen Vereecke and his 14-year-old stallion Kasanova de la Pomme finished fifth and were the top Belgian pair in the €500,000 Rolex Grand Prix, powered by Audi, at the Brussels Stephex Masters. Vereecke finished the second round faster than winner Larocca but had one fault at the second fence: “One wrong distance, and the rail fell. A shame, I could have won,” Vereecke commented. “It’s disappointing, but overall, I feel good about Kasanova, who has been showing great form for several months now and is a solid presence on the 5* circuit,” said Koen Vereecke.
