November 17, 2025 
In a winning jump-off round, there’s often a make-it-or-break-it moment that marks the sometimes razor-thin line between victory and defeat. For the Netherlands’ William Greve, that moment was undoubtedly jump-off Fence 5 during the fourth leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ qualifier season at the Stuttgart German Masters.
After a relatively conservative start to Course Designer Christa Jung’s (GER) looping, second-round track, Greve and Pretty Woman Van’t Paradijs N.O.P.’s bold gallop around the end of the arena snowballed into an unexpected flier at the wide, green oxer—requiring his 10-year-old Belgian mare to, essentially, grow wings and fly.
“He got away with it! Well, he had to take a chance somewhere,” Commentator Alice Watson reflected, aghast. But Pretty Woman’s confidence in her longtime rider didn’t waiver.
Greve quickly regained his composure and managed to rein-in Pretty Woman’s growing excitement, using her impressive power and stride-length to complete the rest of the course without fault. The pair stopped the timers at 44.62 seconds, securing the win.
“This feeling, this is what we do it for—the adrenaline is unbelievable, the relief,” said Greve, who currently sits at #37 on the Longines Rankings. “It’s been a long weekend, I only had two horses here, but winning as the last competitor in the jump-off, for the amazing crowd here in Stuttgart, it’s a dream come true.”
Portugal’s Rodrigo Giesteira Almedia was second with Karonia L on 45.08 seconds, while Peder Fredricson (SWE) and Alcapone des Carmille rounded out the podium on 45.29 seconds.
“I knew my jump-off [time] was not unbeatable, but, okay, I’m against the best horses and riders in the world,” Giesteira Almedia said. “I tried to make up my time as much as I could until the end, and it worked out—until the last rider! But that was Willem Greve, one of the best riders in the world. I have no words to describe how proud I am of Karonia.”
Carefully produced by Greve since her 6-year-old year, Pretty Woman Van’t Paradijs N.O.P. made her championship debut last summer at the European Championships in La Coruña, Spain. Together, they have finished on a total of six podiums at 1.50m and higher, and with this—their first 5* Grand Prix win—the pair adds their name to a list of just four, 9- and 10-year-old horses to win a 5* 1.60m Grand Prix so far this year (Jumpr Stats).
Brazil’s Yuri Mansur, who finished 6th with QH Alfons Santo Antonio in Stuttgart, has moved to the top of the Western European League Standings on 28 points. Alain Jufur of Switzerland sits in second with 26 points, while Daniel Deusser (GER) and Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen (NOR) tie for third on 25 points.
Next up: the series moves on to La Coruña for its fifth leg, taking place December 5-7.
For Greve, this career-high win with Pretty Woman, who he co-owns with Gerda Korbeld, was particularly emotional. “Pretty Woman is a very special mare to me,” he said, noting that Gerda’s husband, Dutch sport horse breeder and sponsor Gerard Korbeld, passed away last year. “I’m sure [Gerald is] somewhere up there, and he sees it,” Greve said.
“This mare is part of the family, and she will never leave.”
