Great Britain’s Lucia Nicole Caroline and her KWPN mare Holly Blue went closest when going clear in 37.10 seconds. Two Belgians followed – Elise Thirion (37.58) and Imke Boden (38.18) who were in the saddle on the gelding Dance Floor du Cauroy and the seven-year-old stallion Cappuccino van Paemel Z from the Zangersheide stud (Netherlands) respectively. The only German competitor in the 20-strong field, the 15-year-old Jana Roth and her ten-year-old DSP mare Bumble Bruni exited at the first stage. She came 19thafter incurring 28 faults in 86.32 seconds.
Speaking after the class, the winner Sam Widger said: “It was my first time in Stuttgart. My feeling was very good, but I had two quick-ins and I was holding my breath once or twice. But everything basically went well.” The Irishman continued: “My Bon Jovi wasn’t too excited. He was jumping class and was so quick and careful.” He went on to praise the Stuttgart crowd. “The atmosphere was unbelievable, probably the best I’ve ever experienced.” The 20 points he earned for his success have moved him up to sixth in the rankings after three from four legs (Salzburg will follow from 2 to 6 December) on the road to the final in Mechelen, Belgium (26 to 30 December 2026).
