Emile Faurie was in dominant form on German soil over the weekend as he took two wins and a second place at the iconic Hamburg Derby meeting.
In Friday’s Grand Prix, Emile partnered Elena Knyaginicheva’s Lollipop 126 to second place. Emile has only been riding the Lord Sinclair I sired 13 year old since April and this was just their second outing together but they looked confident. Only a spook from some crowd noise at the ‘a’ end of the arena blotted an otherwise assured performance to score 71.66%. Relative newcomer Russia’s Tatyana Kosterina, who’s based in Germany, was the winner with Diavolessa (Don Frederico x Londonderry) on 72.3% with Bianca Kasselmann giving the home fans reason to cheer in third with Delatio on 70.72%. These three qualified for the event’s showcase, the Derby, on Sunday.
German based Brit Susan Pape posted 68.54% with Harmony Sporthorses and her own Harmony’s Fiorano to finish 13th while Anna Ross was 17th with Jane Sewell’s ever improving Wydny with 65.94%.
All three British riders opted for the Grand Prix Special and Emile and Lollipop were in imperial form. A score of 74.84% took the class and was a new personal best for them – bettering their score from Hagen by over 2%. All but the judge at c had the partnership to win. Germany’s Hartwig Burfeind was 2% adrift with Fine Sprit for second while Bianca Kasselmann matched her GP performance in third with Delatio but with an improved score of 71.92%.
Anna was delighted with a ninth place finish for Wydny on 65.84% in their first 4* competition together and said on Facebook; “It’s a been totally invaluable experience for him to come here, albeit a baptism of fire, as it’s like a mini-Aachen.”. Susan was just 0.4% behind to make sure we had three Brits in the top ten. She scored 65.49 with Harmony’s Fiorano to end a good week.
On to Sunday’s feature, the Dressage Derby, held at Hamburg since 1955, where the top three from the Grand Prix go head to head and swap horses over a shortened Grand Prix level test. Emile opted to ride Escada, who’d been ridden in the Grand Prix by Bianca as the rules allow a rider to change horses, as long as they’ve competed in the GP. At just 11, the mare, by Ehrenpreis, is still relatively new to this level but gelled with Emile well and they posted 73.5% for their test. Bianca lead after the first round as she scored 73.61% with her Delatio while Tatyana scored 71.73% on Diavolessa. Emile went on to earn 70%+ from both other horses, 74.41% with Diavolessa and a stunning 76.52% from Delatio. Might there be a jockey change at Hof Kasselmann?
Emile totalled 224.44 from his three partners to take the 7000 euro prize and Derby honour while the Hannoverian licensed stallion Delatio was the top horse with 218.47, also earning 7000 euros for owner Elena Knyaginicheva.
Hof Kasselmann posted a video of the prize giving on Facebook. Emile summed his Hamburg trip up simply in saying; “an absolutely awesome weekend!”
Derby scores:
For full results – click here