The 36-year-old prevailed after a jump-off featuring 16 riders by going double clear in the quickest time of 41.77sec.

France's Kevin Staut, who won Olympic team gold with France at Rio 2016, was second with Reveur de Hurtebise HDC, clocking 41.94sec in the jump-off as the top nine all went double clear.

Niklas Krieg of Germany came third at the Leipziger Messe, clocking 43.76sec.

"Coree is an amazing horse, but she’s really only at the beginning of her career," said Wathelet.

"Sometimes I lose her a little bit when I go fast, but today I had a good feeling because there were a lot of turns and everything came up just right for us.

"I didn’t see Kevin go, but he’s always fast so I knew I had to take a lot of risk. 

"I’m very lucky to have this mare, I got her three years ago and she was initially for sale but then Judith Goelkel, who has eight horses with me, bought her and we have taken time to bring her along. 

"I was planning to give her a rest, but now we will see if we can go to the final - that is my first goal for 2017."

Staut still leads the overall Western European League jumping standings, with a tally of 78 points.

Lorenzo de Luca of Italy and Denis Lynch of Ireland have 78 and 60 in second and third respectively. 

The season continues in Zurich on January 29.