While excitement builds up in Aachen, for the kick-off of the Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup, topsport was delivered in the Youngster Cup and STAWAG Prize. Earlier today Hansi-Dreher secured a home win in the Youngster Cup. McLain Ward continued the USA-party winning the STAWAG Prize!
In front of a packed stadium it was USA's McLain Ward who jumped to the win in the CSIO5* STAWAG-Prize. Aboard, High Star Hero (I Am Moerhoeve's Star, breeder: Luc Henry), McLAin jumped to the win in 66,86 seconds. The pair referred, Stephan De Freitas Barcha and Dinozo Imperio Egipcio (Diamant de Semilly) to the runner-up position.
After a clear finish in 67.85 seconds the BRazilian was just a bit faster as Daniel Bluman and his 10-year-old KWPN-mare, Kapitaal L (Cornet Obolensky). The pair was followed by Ben Maher and Corlander (Cornet Colbert), while the top five was completed by Shane Sweetnam and his 9-year-old Coriaan van Klapscheut Z (Comme Il Faut).
Hansi Dreher and Harley de la Cense win Youngster Cup
In a time of 64.97 seconds Hans-Dieter Dreher and the Selle Français gelding, Harley de la Cense, snatched the victory away from Georgia Thame and Be Thiassi. The AES-bred mare out of Cuick Star Tervec had headed the field on a time of 65.18 seconds up until then. The pair ultimately finished second and the mare was also the best seven-year-old horse in the class. A further British pair came third, Ben Maher with the Zangersheide-bred gelding, Maddox vh Haringvliet Z, a Monte Bellini son (65.91). The winner of the first qualifier for the final, Lusso Gih Z under Steve Guerdat (SUI), came fourth today.
Hans-Dieter Dreher, who is due to compete in his first European Championships in La Coruña this year, beamed like a Cheshire cat and is convinced Harley de la Cense is going to be his next star. “I have been riding him now for just under a year,” reported Dreher. “He still hasn’t got that much experience at this height, but he really is an exceptional horse!”
The 53-year-old said emphatically that the horse had demonstrated to everyone today precisely why he thinks that. The horse’s talent comes from his genes: Harley’s dam, the Calvaro Z daughter, Twenty Clary, was herself successful at four- and five-star level – namely under Hansi Dreher, so it all comes full circle. Whereby, Twenty Clary never won a class in Aachen. In this connection, her son already has one up on her.
