Waldman, on Lizziemary, completed the course without faults in 39.46sec, narrowly ahead of Germany's Ludger Beerbaum on Cool Feeling, who also produced two clear runs but in 39.81.

Afterwards Waldman was full of praise for her ultra-consistent chestnut mare.

She said: “I like to think she’s one of the best in the world.

"She tries so hard and there isn’t a single day that she doesn’t lay it all out.

"The only time that I don’t do well is if I screw up, so as long as I do a good job she’s always there for me.

"It’s a privilege to ride her and she’s an amazing animal.”

With Waldman having already qualified for the LGCT Super Grand Prix in Prague in November thanks to an earlier win in Shanghai, Beerbaum progresses to the season-ending playoffs after a strong showing in front of his home crowd.

He said: “If someone this morning had said to me that I’d win the qualifier and come second in the Grand Prix then I would have signed straight away.

“The peak is qualification for Prague and respect to Danielle as she really deserved to win today.”  

Pieter Devos of Belgium maintains the LGCT ranking lead on 249 points, 17 ahead of Germany's Daniel Deusser with Ben Maher of Britain third on 224.

There is further action in Berlin tomorrow, with the 14th leg of the tour in London next weekend.