Newcomer to Aachen Wins the STAWAG Opening Jumping
Direct hit for Brazil’s Eduardo Menezes on his CHIO debut – first time in Aachen, first competition and a victory straight off!
“It is incredible how many people are here on Tuesday already,” said the amazed Brazilian rider, Eduardo Menezes, who lives in the USA, after doing his lap of honor in the Main Stadium of the Soers to the applause of the crowd. He had just won the opening jumping class of the CHIO Aachen, the STAWAG Prize, with his 13-year-old Oldenburg-bred mare, Caruschka by Caspar. And in what style!
He finished the course almost two seconds faster than the rest of his fellow competitors. That was no coincidence either: “When I ride, I want to win! And if I don’t succeed it is not because I didn’t try hard enough,” revealed the 37-year-old with a wink. Caruschka is his “speed horse”. Tomorrow in the Turkish Airlines-Prize of Europe, Menezes will be saddling his Olympic horse, Quintol, with whom he competed in Rio in 2016, so his fellow competitors will have to watch out!
For a long time it looked like the Dutch rider Aniek Poels and the eleven-year-old Cornet Obolensky mare Cosma Go would win the class after reaching the finishing line clear in 61.01 seconds. But then Eduardo Menezes entered the ring with his grey mare and raced over the finish line in a time of 59.36, which meant Aniek Poels had to make do with second place.
Marcus Ehning, who is famous for his immaculate style, came third on the horse that he won the final of the Sparkassen-Youngsters-Cup with last year, the meanwhile nine-year-old Hanoverian-bred mare, Calanda by Calido. At the time Ehning said that Calanda could be his next superstar. Although he is actually not a man of many words, back then he raved that “Calanda is a fantastic horse”. She certainly proved that again today, when she jumped clear in 62.16 seconds to finish third.
The remaining German riders ranked as follows: Christian Kukuk in fifth place with Colestus, the new German Champion, Simone Blum, in seventh place with Flying Boy (Rang sieben), Holger Hetzel with Legioner (10th) and Markus Beerbaum with Comanche (13th).
Diverse other pairs jumped clear, took things easy in the opening jumping, preferring to kick of the World Equestrian Festival with a good performance, such as for instance Laura Klaphake, who is nominated for the Nations’ Cup on Thursday and who is making her debut in the regular classes.
For full results, click here.
Alvarez Moya and His Clear Round Guarantee Win in the Sparkassen-Youngsters-Cup
Sergio Alvarez Moya from Spain rode to victory in the Sparkassen-Youngsters-Cup with his talented young horse G & C Wolf and explained how one can recognise the quality of horses in Aachen.
An extremely well-spirited Sergio Alvarez Moya took pleasure in being celebrated by the crowd in Aachen after his superior victory in the Sparkassen-Youngsters-Cup with the just seven-year-old KWPN-bred gelding, G & C Wolf by Harley VDL. The pair crossed the finish line clear in a time of 65.37 seconds.
The Spanish rider hadn’t really expected to win, although he reported G & C Wolf has not picked up a single fault in the past year. However, he had given the gelding a longer break after the season. “One is sometimes inclined to do too much, too early with the good horses,” he explained, “which is why I didn’t compete with him at any shows.”
Aachen is only the pair’s second public appearance this season. “I competed in two small classes with him last week. He didn’t feel quite as good there. He was a little spooky. One noticed that the show routine was lacking somewhat.” He added that he had been totally different today: “He likes this stadium! That underlines the quality of a horse. The good horses excel in such an atmosphere. Others are shy and underperform.” Wolf obviously belongs to the first category.
The same also applies for the horses that ranked behind him. The eight-year-old Holsteiner Sandero by Sandro Boy came second with the Belgian rider, Gregory Wathelet. The chestnut gelding jumped marvellously with an excellent technique and always maintained a nice forward pace. The clock stopped at 66.99 seconds.
The round of the horse that came third, the Irish-bred HHS Hercules, was equally nice to watch. The pedigree of the gelding is unknown, whereas the rider is one of the VIPs, who has been celebrating victories in Aachen for years: Beezie Madden from the USA. The two haven’t been a pair for very long. Their first show together was in mid-June in Spruce Meadows, the venue of the second Rolex Major. The pair competed there three weekends and picked up several placings – good training for the Soers, because the show also boasts a huge grass arena. A fast round in the time of 67.51 seconds in the Sparkassen-Youngsters-Cup is a good indication that the preparation in Canada paid off for the CHIO.
The best German rider was Marco Kutscher with the also eight-year-old Westphalian-bred stallion, Charco by Chin Quin. The stallion with a Russian owner impressed the spectators because he jumped so cautiously as well as recording the fifth fastest time (69.70).
For full results, click here.
Edited press release: CHIO Aachen