Richard Vogel came third in the jump-off in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. At this point, his girlfriend Sophie HInners was in the lead with Iron Dames Singlair. The Swedish gelding had one knockdown in a fast 41.18 seconds. In the end, this was the fourth fastest time of the eleven pairs in the jump-off and meant seventh place, because the US-Amazonian Lillie Keenan with Kick on by Warrior crossed the finish line after 40.82 seconds, also with one knockdown.

Performance by Richard Vogel in ‘s-Hertogenbosch

Even before the jump-off it was clear: the days at the Dutch Masters were the weekend of “Richie” Vogel. He had already celebrated three victories in the Brabant halls, as well as several top placings. Before the fourth, he had to prove himself with his European Champion United Touch S in the 310-metre jump-off course set by course designer Louis Konickx.

The “gallop sets” of the United Touch S in ‘s-Hertogenbosch

The two galloped confidently into the arena in typical style. United Touch S with his big canter, Richard Vogel with his hands, as always without gloves, on the mane crest. The basic speed was high right from the first obstacle, a steep jump. Then Vogel switched on the turbo. An oxer awaited on a left-hand bend, followed by a double combination jump in the round. The pair covered the distance with six canter jumps, although one is inclined to speak more of “canter sets”. It was probably these first few meters that made the difference. All the other pairs needed seven canter jumps without getting dangerously close to the mighty oxer.

What do birds do? Fly!

The rest of the course also looked effortless. It was fascinating to see how the Westphalian came back at the double combination – two yellow, green, airy Rolex jumps – only to pick up speed again on landing. A tight turn onto an oxer, an overbuilt water ditch, looked like child’s play for the brown giant. And with a big leap over the last airy steep jump, the pair crossed the finish line penalty-free: 39.42 seconds. None of the next eight competitors were able to match this time.

Closest on Vogel’s heels was the 25-year-old Belgian rider Thibeau Spits with the stallion Impress. They managed to make up some time after jump two (0/40.76). Nevertheless, the gap between Vogel and the pair, who finished eighth in last year’s European Championships, was more than 1.3 seconds.

“Old champion” without mistakes, but still without a chance of victory

The distance between the two of them and the third-placed rider shows just how fast they were. Belgian rider Pieter Devos had brought Casual DV Z into the jump-off. The Belgian mare by Cornet Obolensky was not slow, but Devos did not seem to want to put all his eggs in one basket. His 42.94 seconds without a knockdown, third place, still earned him 150,000 euros in prize money. The Rolex Grand Prix of ‘s-Hertogenbosch was worth a total of one million euros.

Fuchs and von Eckermann fast, but not fast enough

Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann, the 2022 World Champion, brought one of the youngest horses in the competition to the start with Qasirah vd Reistenhoek. The ten-year-old Emerald daughter galloped with commitment over the 310 meters (0/43.44) and relegated the Swiss rider Martin Fuchs to fifth place. Fuchs did not turn the eleven-year-old L&L Lorde by Clyde too tightly. His slightly wider stride added up to 44.35 seconds, fifth place ahead of Lillie Keenan (USA) and Sophie Hinners.

No bonus for challenger Farrington

The US American Kent Farrington, the winner of the last Rolex Grand Prix in Geneva in December 2025, could have secured an additional 500,000 euro bonus with a victory in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. And with the speed, agility and suppleness with which he rode the twelve-year-old Zangersheide mare Toulayna by Toulon around the course, there was no doubt that he would have liked to collect the winner’s premium and bonus. The mare jumped nimbly and safely – until a pole fell at each of the last two obstacles, which meant tenth place.

An oldie wants to know

The two Dutch riders Hessel Hoekstra (ninth after a careless mistake at the wall) and Bas Moerings, who finished eleventh with two knockdowns on his family-bred Ipsthar by Denzel, deserve a mention, but above all Yuri Mansur’s (BRA) Alfons Santo Antonio. The bay is 19 years old and showed that he is far from being an old hand. Fortuna only got in the pair’s way at the final 1.60-metre steep jump – down, eighth place.

Result Rolex Grand Prix Dutch Masters ‘s-Hertogenbosch 2026