September 2, 2024 
The 93rd start was the charm for José Maria Larocca.
The Argentinian Olympian has contested some 92 1.60m classes over the course of his considerable career. In the stirrups of Finn Lente, he has a 45% clear round average at the height and has jumped to six 1.60m podium finishes since 2019—five times finishing in the runner up position, including at last year’s Brussels Stephex Masters.
On Sunday, at age 55, Larocca made his 93rd attempt in the Rolex Grand Prix in Belgium and finally claimed the top step of a 1.60m podium.
He’s the first Argentinian in 50 years to win a 5* Grand Prix and he did it at the Brussels Stephex Masters on a horse discovered by Stephex Group founder and CEO Stephan Conter.
But it wasn’t just the win that had Larocca beaming, it was who he beat.
In a podium separated by mere tenths of a second, Larocca bested reigning Olympic individual silver medalist Steve Guerdat (SUI) on his Paris Games mount, Dynamix du Belheme, and Sweden’s Peder Fredricson riding Alcapone des Carmille, who finished second and third, respectively.
“Between my two idols,” said the elated Argentinian.
“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* Grand Prix. 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.”
In the Rolex Grand Prix of Brussels, the top 12 from the first round return for the second round. Fredricson was first to post a double clear, crossing the timers in 42.53 seconds. Guerdat shaved half a second off to take over the lead in 42.15. Larocca took every risk to finish 0.07 seconds faster and write his name on the wall of champions.
