Isabell Werth and Madeleine Winter-Schulze's Rhinelander gelding El Santo captured the Grand Prix Kur to Music victory which was contested under the floodlights in front of the picturesque Biebrich castel in Wiesbaden, Germany, on Sunday evening 24 May 2015. It was Werth's sixth Wiesbaden freestyle win and her first on El Santo.
Scoring 80.53% with her David Bowie kur, Werth and El Santo (by Ehrentusch x Rhythmus) cruised to the number one spot with an almost three percent lead on the second placed pair.
"It was super," Werth commented. "When you sit in the hotel and it's about eight 'o clock and you need to get up and prepared to ride at eleven, you do sigh," Isabell admitted. "But then when you get here, you get electrified, motivated and each time it's a lot of fun and an honour to ride here."
The 20-year old Sönke Rothenberger landed second place on his own Rhinelander gelding Favourit (by Fidermark x World Champ) with a 77.800% score.
"I had never been here before to watch the kur, not even once," Sönke confessed. "but I had seen the surroundings from afar. It was fun, even before it started. I got goose bumps!"
Former German team young rider Charlott Maria Schurmann and her chestnut Hanoverian Burlington (by Breitling x Rohdiamant) slotted in third with 76.925%. Last year's winner of the Piaff Forderpreis for German Under 25 riders has smoothly transitioned to senior Grand Prix level.
Thirteen contestants participated in the kur to music and ten of them scored over 70%.
Before the kur a retirement ceremony was supposed to take place for German B-team Grand Prix horse Le Noir, who has been retired from sport by his owner Hans Herzog. Rider Uta Gräf was unable to bring the 15-year old Holsteiner stallion to Wiesbaden for his dedicated ceremony as he most likely had cast himself in his stall early that morning and he was not entirely fit. "He stood funnily in his box with a hanging neck this morning," Gräf explained to the crowds as she and the owner decided to leave him home.
The 30-year old Matthias Rath won the morning Intermediaire I class aboard the 8-year old Oldenburg bred Danonchen (by Danone I x Rohdiamant) with a strong score of 76.211%. "Wiesbaden was the first show of the year for both of us," Rath commented after the test. "I'm content."
Photos © LL-foto
Related Links
Scores 2015 CDI Wiesbaden
Balkenhol and Heuberger Win Opening Class at 2015 CDI Wiesbaden