Sick-Sack, Fame and Glory, Ladiva, Dimancier SN, Jota Das Figueiras Win 2022 Spanish Young Horse Championships

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2022 Spanish Young Horse Championships

The 4-year old Svanegaardens Sick-Sack, the 5-year old Fame & Glory, the 6-year old Ladiva, the 7-year old Dimancier SN and the developing Prix St. Georges horse Jota Das Figueiras became the grand champions of the 2022 Spanish Young Horse Championships held in Club de Campo Villa de Madrid on 29 September - 2 October 2022.

The level presented was once again impressive with a large collection of 80% scoring horses. Two riders stood out more than the rest: Manuel Pérez Valle and Juan Matute.

4-YO: Shooting Star vs Young Horse Medal Machine

The 4-year-old category presented big names. The cards were on the table and each of them performed their tests at great level, but at the end the big fight was: Morón vs Acosta, novice vs expert. A fight worth seeing, in which finally the Danish warmblood bred Sick-Sack ridden by Sergio Moron became the winner. As an interesting fact, both the first and second placed horses, Sick-Sack and Saltes TR, are sons of the World runner-up, Secret.

The 4-year preliminary revealed that Moron would dominate the 4-year old division with no less than three of his horses in the running. The cherry on the cake came on the final day, when the excitement was palpable in the atmosphere, because everyone had an appointment at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid to see the grand finale of the 4-year-olds. Eighteen horses fought for the title of Champion of Spain.

Morón's start in the final was a disappointment to the rider. On the back of his first horse out of three, the Polish bred Oldenburg Vinicio (by Vitalis x Blue Hors Romanov), he had to pilot a stallion who was very unfocused and tense when it came to walk. The 67,800% score was devastating and resulted in a bitter start. However, a few minutes later that taste turned bittersweet. Sergio introduced the Danish warmblood Svanegaardens Sick-Sack (by Secret x Blue Hors Don Romantic). His presentation was impressive. Without losing a single stride of rhythm, the rider from Arnedo (in the Rioja district) linked the exercises with finesse, elegance and, above all, ease. His 89,600 put him in the lead. (8.8 in the trot, 9.5 in the walk, 9 canter, 8.5 in submission and 9 for perspective). Svanegaardens Sick-Sack is bred in Denmark by Anna Marie Nielsen and Egon Molin and was bought by Moron as a foal.

Almost half an hour later it was Juan Manuel Acosta's turn with Saltes TR (by Secret x De Niro). The rider from Huelva can boast being an expert in finals. The black stallion has it all: beauty and movement. With a very fluid and harmonious trot part, the walk was extraordinary: the horse was elastic, flexible, relaxed and above all free in the shoulders. In the canter, the scope was very similar. The only "but" in the test was prior to the canter part, in which the horse lost the rhythm. The 86.400% was not enough to beat Sergio Morón. (8.2 in the trot, 9.5 in the walk, 8.8 canter, 8.2 in submission and 8.5 in perspective)

The battle was not over and Morón still had one more duty, to compete his last horse, Danish warmblood Svanegaardens Quatro (by Quaterhit x Dr. Doolittle). The stallion captures the attention for his beautiful spot on the face and his conformation. The chestnut has less ring experience than Sergio's other competition aces and it showed. However despite the face of adversity and the hustle and bustle on the warm-up track, Sergio controlled the situation and executed the test. Quatro flew again in the canter extension and the judges awarded him a 9.5. His points were : 8.5 trot, 7.9 walk, 9.5 canter, 7.5 in submission and 8.5 for perspective. His final score of 83,800 placed him third. The chestnut was also purchased a foal from the breeder.

The points of both rounds totalled, Sick-Sack became the 4-year-old champion of Spain with a total of 303,700 points. As runner-up, Saltes TR took silver (299,700) while Morón rode his second mount Quatro to bronze with a total of 295,700 points.

Worth Mentioning

During the two days of competition, turbulent weather accompanied the voracity of victories. A week after winning the Spanish Young Riders Champion's title, Sergio Morón had little time to savour the triumph. With tears of of happiness, he achieved another big win in his career a week later, firmly establishing himself as one of Spain's most exciting upcoming, professional riders for the future. In preparation of his future as a senior dressage rider, the young man has travelled to the U.K. and will be training with Carl Hester this autumn and winter.

Not to be overshadowed by shooting star, Sergio Morón, Juan Manuel Acosta ha established a great record of triumphs. This professional is a machine for winning young horse champion titles and medals. Since 2015 he hasn't been off the podium, and to make matters even more impressive, he does so with a new horse every year. Seven consecutive years of non-stop victories were achieved with Salobre TR, Albeitar TR, Columbus TR, Doñana TR, Mentor B, and now Saltes TR.

5-YO: Girls Run the World

Maria Gómez Guzman and the Oldenburg mare Fame and Glory (by For Dance x Farewell III) were a league of their own finishing at the top of the leader board in the 5-year old division, which was ridden over three rounds.

For the first time after placing 10th in 2021, Maria and Fame and Glory took the gold medal after a portentous display of quality and elegance. The pair was crowned the new champion of Spain with a top performance at the highest level. Her path to gold in this championship was a very easy one, creating a gap with the silver medalist with a difference of 19 points (386.400%). Maria sealed a golden hat-trick with great ease and with averages above 86% in all the three tests.

Throughout the three qualifiers, the gold position was clear, but the silver and bronze was a swing and dance of positions. Yeguada Sola Nogales' first rider, Manuel Pérez Valle on the back of Frido SN has made a remarkable comeback. The son of Finest x Spörcken went from less to more. In the preliminary he sealed a fifth position (79,600%), in the second qualifier he climbed two positions (81,600%) and in the final he finished in the silver position (82,000%). The highlight was the walk which the jury rewarded with a 9.5. The horse has dreamy gaits and beautiful conformation for magazine covers.

The winning trio was completed by the young Catalan Paula Hervas with Deflorino RDT (by Don Juan De Hus). Back in 2013, Don Juan De Hus monopolized all the covers of the media. The chestnut stallion ridden by Jessica Michel had a canter from another galaxy, an elegant trot and a quality walk. Deflorino, a direct son of Don Juan de Hus, closed the podium (363,900 points). The chestnut horse can show off the quality of paces of his sire. Taking the second position in the two first qualifiers with more than 82%, in the final round the horse showed a little more energy than normal and sinned in submission. However, Paula was still able to get on the podium. The young rider made her championship debut in the best possible way.

6-YO: Unstoppable Alejandro Sánchez del Barco

The Spanish Alejandro Sanchez del Barco has been in imperial form as of late. With his silver medal at the Spanish Grand Prix Championships and his remarkable performance at the World Championship in Herning with Quincallo de Indalo, Alejandro has been on a hot streak in this last championship of the year.

The 6-year old category presented a titanic fight for each of the three medals. Great names made up the list of participants, but all eyes were on L'Avíon (by Livaldon x Longchamp). Last year's champion in five year old division and a former Verden Auction price highlight was one of the clear favourites, but as is well known in dressage you should never take anything for granted.

In the first round the big surprise was Ladiva, ridden by Alejandro Sánchez del Barco, winning the class. Dante Weltino x Rohdiamant daughter was the big surprise of the day. The 87,400% made her leader of the championship, unseating L' Avión to second position. In the second qualifier, the fight between Ladiva and L'Avion was the great attraction. L' Avion took off again and resumed his winning flight with an impressive 88.600%. The highlight was the walk which got awarded a 10. His walk was hypnotizing.

The cards were on the table, and the finale was decisive for the medals. The two rivals executed some precious tests, but finally the victory went to Ladiva under the mount of Alejandro Sánchez del Barco with an impressive 88.00%. Alejandro and Ladiva are now the new six-year-old champions of Spain (393,900 points). The mare is bred by Matty Marissink, was fourth in the 2019 VSN Trophy and was competed in The Netherlands by Robbin Broekman in 2020. The silver medal went to L'Avion ridden by Manuel Pérez Valle (392,500 pts). The trio of champions was completed by Alfonso Exposito who, after his disappointment at the World Championship of Young Horses, closed his season with the Hanoverian Drago (by Don Romanov x Londonderry) in an uplifting way: a bronze medal (370,400 points).

7-YO: Manuel Perez Valle Grows Beyond Legend

There were many questions in the 7-year old category about the favourites as there were big names among the participants, all with a common goal: to fight for the coveted medals.

Manuel Pérez Valle with the Hanoverian Dimancier SN (by Dancier x Warkant) dominated all three rounds. The son of Dancier already attracted attention last season, but this year has showed more confirmation in canter, as well as in trot. Manuel's skill in this championship has been outstanding. The rider started as one of the hot contenders, but until the moment of truth arrives, anything can happen. He lives up to his expertise, skill and ability and won it ll with scores of 75,997%, 77,061% and 77,443% (total of 346,475 points). This gave him another medal in the championship, his second gold in his professional career.

Manuel not only won gold, but also bronze with the Hanoverian Semino SN (by Scolari x Furstenreich) on a total of 335.517 poinbts. The silver medal went to Juan Matute Guimon with the Westfalian bred Formentor (by Finest x Pavarotti van de Helle) with an overall of 343,39. Taking over the ride on Formentor fro Juan De Dios Ramírez García, Juan Matute took second place in the first and second round, and won the final.

Manuel Pérez Valle, who in this championship presented six (!) horses, completed his stack of medals with one gold, two silvers, and one bronze. An amazing feat without a doubt.

Developing PSG: Claudio Castilla's Golden Strides with Jota Das Figueiras

Claudio Castilla Ruiz on Jota das Figueiras

On Friday, 14 combinations took their first steps in the Developing Prix St Georges Horse Championship for 8 to 9 year olds.

Claudio Castilla and Antonio Simoes' Lusitano Jota Das Figueiras (by Epico Das Figueiras) had no rival. Posting three victories in a row, the Andalusian rider based in Madrid surprises every season with a new competition ace in the Young Horse classes. He totalled 325,421 points. In this edition, his strides were golden from minute one, and again on the back of a Lusitano, as he did at the time in 2011 with Alcaide or in 2019 with Hi Rico do Sobral. Claudio has been a magnet for medals in this championship and since 2016 he has not been off the podium. He was in the top three with Forte MG, San Pikado, Lario de Adama de Susa, Hi Rico Do Sobral, Fogo de Lyw, Luiki and Jota de Hermida.

A second silver in this championship went to Juan Matute Guimon. In this division he rode the Holsteiner bred Centurion (by Zhivago x Loutano) to a total of 319,371 points. The second silver is his third young horse championship medal in his career: the first one was in 2018 with Copernico when he won the gold in the Developing PSG Horse class.

The bronze medal went to the only P.R.E horse able to step on the podium at these Nationals: Banduendo (by Amazonas AR x Montanes III). Ridden by Gustavo Artillo, the grey horse went from less to more in the championship. In the first round he closed out the top five with 67.719%. In the second, he climbed to fourth position thanks to a 67.618% and in the final test, he reached the third position with a remarkable 72.760%. Finally with a total of 314,666 points, Gustavo and Banduendo returned home with the best finishing touch, the bronze.

Results - 2022 Spanish Young Horse Championships

Editor's note: for a national young horse championships, it is sad to see how little accurate pedigree info was available via the official score website. Dam sires were never mentioned, and half the time the sire and breeder info was absent.

4-year olds

1 Sergio Moron Basoco - Sick-Sack (by Secret) -- 303.700
2 Juan Manuel Acosta Ponce - Saltes TR (by Secret) -- 299.700
3 Sergio Moron Basoco - Quatro (by Quaterhit) --- 295.700
4 Victoria Vila Carbo - Flotte Deern (by Frascino) --- 286.200
5 Juan Pablo Matute Guimon - Zuriel (by Zoom) -- 285.600
6 Manuel Perez Valle - Spencer V SN E (by) -- 282.200
7 Pau Bosch Peon - Quincy (by Quick Star) -- 278.100
8 Javier Higuera Carmona - Director´S Cut (by ) --- 275.600
9 Raúl Pereda Ortega - Springtime De Auray (by Springbank Ii) - 273.400
10 Joseph Robert Hunt - Druida De Centurion (by Fer Bago)-- 272.400
11 Joseph Robert Hunt - Diablo De Centurion (by Karanka Cen) ---- 268.500
12 Guillem Barceló Company - Eternal Flame V (by Escolar)---- 267.200
13 Raúl Pereda Ortega - Iza De Auray (by Ibiza) ---- 259.700
14 Angel Roldan Gil - Dona Martina SN Yegua (by )---- 258.800
15 Fuensanta Martinez Campillo VA (by ?) ---- 258.500
16 Sergio Moron Basoco - Vinicio (by Vitalis) ---- 254.100
17 Javier Sastre Parrilla - Diamond Hit (by Diamond Hit) ----- 254.000
18 Carmen Gutiérrez Cruz - North Tottem (by Toto Jr) ---- 251.400

5-year olds

1 Maria Gomez Guzman - Fame And Glory (by For Dance) - 386.400
2 Manuel Perez Valle - Frido SN (by ) - 367.200
3 Paula Hervas Garcia - Deflorino (by Don Juan De Hus) - 363.900
4 Cristina Torrent Moll - Dinna Marq (by Rio Marq) - 360.300
5 Jaime Melgarejo Amian - Samurai (by ) - 356.000
6 Alfonso Gormaz Torcal - Frederick (by Fidertanz) - 354.900
7 Alejandro Oliva Lázaro - Fayenna (by Fürstenball) - 354.000
8 Ruben Soto Gonzalez - Goldrake Di Fonteabeti (by Sezuan) - 352.700
9 Jesús Sánchez Martín - Deinhardt M (by Dancier) - 349.300
10 Antonio Jose Vazquez Quintero - Messi By Mango (by Johnson) - 346.800
11 Antonio Jose Vazquez Quintero - Flanell (by ) - 345.900
12 Juan Jesús López Dobao - Jackson (by ) - 345.300
13 Samuel Delgado Mateos - Love In Black (by De Vivaldi) - 344.000
14 Jaime Melgarejo Amian - Titanium (Miljardair) (by ) - 343.900
15 Antonio Verdejo Pérez - Mambeau B (by ) - 339.500
15 Sara Lewin Ohlenschalager - Finn Comfort (by ) - 339.500
17 Antonio Vivancos Cervantes - New Wettel (by Wettel De Oliveira) - 339.300
18 Alfonso Gormaz Torcal - Maas Ter Kwincke (by In Style) - 335.500

6-year olds

1 Alejandro Sánchez del Barco - Ladiva (by Dante Weltino) - 393.900
2 Manuel Perez Valle - L´Avion SN (by ) - 392.500
3 Alfonso Exposito Santiso - Drago (by Don Romanov) - 370.400
4 Núria Vilà Pérez - Frankie Blue Bcn (by Franklin) - 365.700
5 Antonio Jose Vazquez Quintero - Laurel (by Guardian S) - 364.500
6 Lucas Elías Lara - Lord Sunshine (by Lord Loxley) - 362.800
7 María Culsan Pérez - Levantes (by Guardian S) - 351.300
8 Diego Martínez del Moral - Sir Ruffo (by ) - 343.100
9 Rosendo Delas Llorens - Mohikaner (by ) - 337.600
10 Miguel Gómez Oria - Liverpool (by ) - 335.700
11 Alejandro Oliva Lázaro - Lance (by Eye Catcher) - 332.300
12 Antonio Vivancos Cervantes - Lavendel (by Guardian S) - 328.800
13 Luis Soto Sanchez - Vincenzo Bcn (by Vincent Maranello) - 327.100
14 Ivan Pozas Gómez - Furst Anton (by Fürstenball) - 326.050
15 Miguel Ángel Pérez García - Lenne Van´T Oeleind (by ) - 315.200
16 David de Castro Gomez-Serranillo - Marte Del Carpio (by ) - 304.300

7-year olds

1 Manuel Perez Valle - Dimancier SN (by ) - 346.475
2 Juan Pablo Matute Guimon - Formentor (by Finest) - 343.395
3 Manuel Perez Valle - Semino SN (by ) - 335.517
4 Samuel Delgado Mateos - Kalisto (by Expression) - 333.938
5 Claudio Castilla Ruiz - Liuki (by Unico) - 333.791
6 Manuel Perez Valle - Fenicia SN (by ) - 326.442
7 Diana Ostariz Oliver - Gumilas (by Gumiel) - 325.326
8 Ruben Soto Gonzalez - Aurelius Ymas (by Apache) - 323.222
9 Carlos Bayo Calvo - Kahlua (by Governor) - 317.441
10 Lucas Fernandez Valdeolivas - Klungel (by Ferdeaux) - 315.960
11 Valvanera Palacios Ortuño - Kentucky L (by Ferdaux) - 313.974
12 Antonio Verdejo Pérez - Laos CC (by Tejo) - 311.530
13 José Antonio Torres Díaz - Negrito Del Andaluz (by Quenegro) - 310.979
14 Miguel Ruiz Olmos - Soñador AS (by Mensajero As) - 308.756
15 José María Fernández Rodríguez - Urco II (by Academico Vii) - 304.721
16 Samuel Delgado Mateos - Lidador OC (by Delicado) - 304.357
17 Francisco González del Valle Corredoyra - Alcotan De Centurion (by ) - 301.867
18 Joana Vidal Aragonés - Karadonna (by Jazz) - 294.369

8-9-year olds

1 Claudio Castilla Ruiz - Jota Das Figueiras (by Epico Das Figueiras) - 325.421
2 Juan Pablo Matute Guimon - Centurion (by Zhivago) - 319.371
3 Gustavo Artillo Linares - Banduendo (by Amazonas Ar) - 314.666
4 Carlos Bayo Calvo - Jandy (by Fer Bago) - 308.093
5 Maria Velasco Cano - Fantastica Aristrain (by Bretton Woods) - 307.394
6 Brigitte van der Hagen - Jesperado (by Desperado) - 306.547
7 Maria Velasco Cano - Jacaranda Ponton (by Dali) - 306.150
8 Ruben Soto Gonzalez - Bailaor De Ymas (by Sezuan) - 302.290
9 Bruno Emanuel Camilo Caniço - Iconico OC (by ) - 300.847
10 Antonio Mena-Bernal González - Divane (by ) - 299.571
11 Juan José Ruiz Garrido - Centurion Biniarroga (by Zahonero Xv) - 292.481