Laura Kraut Delivers a Lone Clear to Capture Rolex Grand Prix Glory in Dublin

The $580,000 Rolex Grand Prix of Dublin promised excitement—and it delivered in the most unexpected way. For most of Sunday afternoon, the packed RDS Main Arena braced for a jump-off between riders carrying four faults, as one big name after another fell victim to Wade’s unforgiving 1.60m course.

Then came the second-to-last rider: Laura Kraut. The U.S. Olympic veteran and her sharp, scopey partner Bisquetta, rode into the arena with the poise of a champion and produced the only faultless performance of the day, stopping the clock at 73.97 seconds. Their singular clear not only sealed victory but also put Kraut hot on the heels of Aaron Vale’s win in Dinard two weeks earlier.

Wade’s track proved ruthless from the outset. Fourteen obstacles, seventeen jumping efforts, and a tight 77-second time allowed tested even the sport’s most seasoned athletes. 

By the time Kraut entered the ring, 36 attempts had produced nothing but disappointment. With surgical precision, she and the 11-year-old Zangersheide mare (Bisquet Balou C x Takashi Van Berkenbroek) sliced through the technical questions, leaving every rail in place. The Dublin crowd roared as the scoreboard confirmed what no one else had managed all day—perfection.

It was a masterclass in pressure riding, and one for the Rolex Grand Prix history books.

Photo by Stefan Lafrentz