On Sunday, September 20, Duindigt Racecourse in Wassenaar plays host to Derby Day, the grand finale of the 2026 Dutch harness racing season. The Derby R for three-year-old Dutch trotters serves as the sporting centerpiece, and one name has dominated the narrative: Rolleman Flevo.
Rolleman Flevo (Maharajah), a Dutch-bred three-year-old colt, has yet to taste defeat. On home soil, he has secured ten wins from ten starts, banking €77,100 in prize money. His success extends beyond the border as well, highlighted by his victory in the TCT Gold Cup for three-year-olds in Hamburg on May 24, where he clocked a career-best mile rate of 1.13,3 over 2200 meters. Trainer and driver Dion Tesselaar has been the architect of this success, personally guiding the colt to establish himself as the most dominant three-year-old in the Dutch circuit.
His Derby preparation has been flawless. On September 4, Rolleman Flevo won the Derby Trial at Duindigt over 2000 meters in 1.13,8, cementing his status as the horse to beat. Earlier this season, he claimed the Sweepstakes at Wolvega (1.13,5 over 2100 meters, €7,150) and the Breeders Trophy, also at Wolvega (1.13,6 over 2100 meters, €8,900). His winning streak dates back to his two-year-old campaign, which included a win in the Hohneck TCT Derby for Two-Year-Olds at Wolvega in 1.12,7 over 1609 meters—earning him his largest single prize of €19,000.
Dion Tesselaar, who currently ranks second in the Dutch driver standings with 24 wins behind Jaap van Rijn (43), captured last year's Derby with Paranoh Newport. Securing back-to-back Derby titles with a different horse would further cement his reputation as the premier classic trainer in the Netherlands. The fact that Tesselaar also prepared the winner of the Filly Derby Trial on September 4, Rose Starlake—driven by Jeffrey Mieras—underscores his stable's total grip on the R-generation. Rose Starlake crossed the wire in 1.17,3 over 2000 meters.
