Oslo (Norway), Oct 16 (IANS): Germany's Daniel Deusser and his new ride Cornet won the opening leg of the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping 2017/2018 Western European League here.

The second last to go in the seven-horse jump-off, Deusser and Cornet beat Rio Olympic team gold medallist Kevin Staut from France to runner-up spot with For Joy van't Zorgvliet HDC while Australia's Edwina Tops-Alexander clinched third with the mare California on Sunday, reports Xinhua news agency. 

Deusser was delighted with his new horse which was previously competed by America's Lauren Hough.

"He's very sensitive, you have to get to know him a little bit but he has great character - he wants to help you in the end, he wants to win and he has a great instinct in the ring," Deusser said.

Deusser took the finals title with his great Cornet d'Amour, also by the stallion Cornet Obolensky, back in 2014 in Lyon and the day's victory has set him on the path to the 2018 Final in Paris next April.

Deusser is now targeting more qualifying points in the second leg of the Western European League in Helsinki.