Sandra Sysojeva and Maxima Bella ahead of Tobias Nabben in the Grand Prix of Opglabbeek (BEL)

With a score of 73.391 percent, Poland’s Sandra Sysojeva and her horse Maxima Bella—unmatched in terms of shoulder freedom—took the undisputed lead among the 19 pairs competing in the CDI4* Grand Prix in Opglabbeek.

At ten years old, the Hanoverian Millennium filly has a “track record” comparable to that of many other Grand Prix horses nearing the end of their careers: she has competed in 64 international Grand Prix events since early 2024, when she had just turned eight and made her international debut. By way of comparison: Carl Hester’s Fame, for example, is now 16 and has 47 CDI Grand Prix competitions under her belt.

In that regard—Maxima Bella may only be ten years old, but she is no longer a young horse. Accordingly, she delivered a seasoned performance today in Opglabbeek, with her rhythmically precise and active piaffes and passages once again earning her the most points. Four of the five judges awarded scores above 74 percent. Only the Belgian judge Freddy Leyman, in the “M” class, presumably preferred a dressage horse over a trained horse and awarded just 68.370 percent. Four first-place finishes, one 10th-place finish.

Forster in second place

Tobias Nabbens is, so to speak, the polar opposite of Maxima Bella Forster. He is eleven years old and competed in his ninth CDI event today. His last international tournament was the CDI Hagen; this was his first indoor competition since the spring. That didn’t bother the dainty son of Finest much, and with a very harmonious round, characterized by elasticity and lightness, the pair danced their way to a new personal best on the international stage of 71.695 percent. One minor downside: the curb bit slipping. The contact was light, but at times the lower bar of the curb bit was far from the required 45-degree angle to the mouth.

Jeroen Devroe’s Weekend

Belgian rider Jeroen Devroe has been on a real roll so far at his home competition. Yesterday, he won the Grand Prix of the CDI3* Tour with Jackpot, a 12-year-old son of Everdale, who last competed in early September and placed second in the Grand Prix and first in the Special in Deauville. The judges in Opglabbeek awarded 70.174 percent for this performance by the local hero. Today, for the Four-Star Tour, Devroe saddled his World Championship horse Lestor, a 10-year-old KWPN gelding by Gandhi. It was a new personal best for the pair: their first score above 71 percent—71.169, to be exact—and, just like yesterday, thanks to a very solid and faultless ride.

Thomas Wagner made his first international appearance since May today with Escolar’s Emil, the runner-up in the Louisdor Prize. The rider from Hesse had previously competed with his Rhineland-bred Escolar son at the national level in Darmstadt and Pinneberg following the German Championships in Balve, placing first, second, third, and fourth in each event. Today, facing international competition, they were also able to compete at the top: 71.152 percent, fourth place.

Also still in the top ranks: Corentin Poittier of France, riding San Cloud’s Lucky—a son of San Amour out of a Hanoverian mare—in fifth place (69.826).

And what else?

Katharina Hemmer’s Slaide’s international appearances can be counted on one hand. The 11-year-old Hanoverian, a son of Spörcken, has not yet managed to break the 70 percent mark. But anyone who has been following his progress has probably noticed how much confidence the black horse has gained, especially in the difficult movements. So it’s likely only a matter of time before the gelding reaches 70 percent not only nationally but also internationally. Today he scored 68.236 percent—with a major slip-up at the end, when the black horse apparently got spooked during the passage and took a step forward.

After two major mistakes in the canter sequence, the zigzag half-passes, and the second pirouette—all of which are double-counting exercises—Hemmers’ second horse in the competition, Special Gold PCH, a son of Weihegold, had to settle for 67.370 percent today. However, other elements went well today, such as the piaffes and passages.

Fabienne Müller Lütkemeier and Valencia AS got off to a great start in the trot sequence, but in the canter, Fabienne wasn’t quite as confident in controlling her Vitalis daughter with the driving aids, and mistakes crept in here as well, resulting in a score of 67.891 percent.

You can find all the results from Opglabbeek here.