The Prize of Deutsche KreditBank (1.50m) at the Al Shiraa’a Hamburg Derby proved to be a showcase of speed and precision. Spanish rider Imma Roquet Autonell delivered a masterclass performance, steering her home-bred mare Elba del Maset (Eilan del Maset) to a spectacular victory.
As the featured class of the day during the Al Shiraa’a Hamburg Derby, the jump-off became a clash of titans. While the German home guard fought valiantly to keep the trophy on home soil, they ultimately had no answer for Roquet Autonell’s blistering time of 35.66 seconds.
The podium was rounded out by a strong German contingent that delighted the home crowd despite missing out on the win. Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann secured the runner-up spot aboard the elegant grey mare My Lady Lavista. Sired by the legendary Mylord Carthago HN out of a Levisto mare, My Lady Lavista displayed remarkable scope to stop the clock at 36.41 seconds. She was followed closely by compatriot Rene Dittmer, who piloted the Casall-son Cody 139 to a third-place finish. Dittmer’s performance was a display of sheer consistency, crossing the line just two-hundredths of a second behind Meyer-Zimmermann and further cementing the influence of Quidam de Revel bloodlines in top-tier competition.
Just outside the podium, Kristaps Neretnieks of Latvia secured fourth place with Corlansky-Pro, an Oldenburg gelding by Corlani out of a Cadensky mare. The pair delivered a rhythmic and balanced clear round in 36.68 seconds, holding off a spirited challenge from Sweden’s Thomas Ryan. Ryan filled the fifth position with the youngest talent in the top bracket, the nine-year-old stallion Million's Grey. By the prolific sire Million Dollar and out of a Colman mare, the young Holsteiner stallion proved his elite credentials by staying within striking distance of the seasoned veterans with a time of 37.37 seconds.
This high-octane jump-off served as a thrilling prelude to the main event in Hamburg, showcasing a blend of world-class breeding and elite horsemanship. While the pedigrees in the top five highlighted the dominance of traditional European powerhouses like Holsteiner and Oldenburg, it was the Spanish CDE mare Elba del Maset—sired by Eilan del Maset—that ultimately stole the spotlight. Her victory sets a high bar for the remainder of the week as the focus shifts toward the legendary and grueling challenges of the Hamburg Derby.
