The Hamburg crowd went wild when the Spaniard Esteban Benitez Valle and C the Stars completed the first clear round of the approximately 1,250-metre-long Derby course: The son of Contendro I and Cassini II (Oliver Ross, Morsum), line 4, has already gained experience on the venerable Derby course, finishing fifth in 2023 and eighth in 2024 on the world’s most difficult course – though at that time he was still ridden by the Irishman Stephan Dubsky, a friend of the Spanish rider who had lent him C the Stars for the Derby. In the jump-off, the Spaniard missed a turning marker, resulting in the pair’s elimination – yet one of only two clear rounds in the previous round secured him second place in the 2025 German Show Jumping Derby behind André Thieme and Paule S. Another Holsteiner took sixth place: the former Derby winner Cordillo by Corrido-Candillo (Erik Schöning, Sipsdorf), line 3488, with Simon Heineke (GER) in the saddle.
Also enjoying great success in Hamburg was the former State and National Champion, as well as World Champion of Young Show Jumpers: In the Four-Star Classic Tour, Caillan by Casall-Carry (Gerd Ohlsen, Föhr), line 18A2, and Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE) won the Grand Prix.
This mare had already made a name for herself in Youngster Tours last year, including at the VR Classics in Neumünster: Now Kasuarina HHL by Charleston-Quidam de Revel (Reimer Hennings, Bendorf), line 7673, also shone in Hamburg: Ridden by Philipp Battermann-Voss, the former Holsteiner auction horse took third place in the final of the Theurer Trucks 2Go Youngster Tour.
In the five-star tour, two horses with extensive experience at the top level, amongst others, once again delivered excellent results: in the 1.60-metre Grand Prix, Corsica X by Connor-Corofino II (Erich Westphal, Stipsdorf), line 4564, with Rene Dittmer (GER) in sixth place. Con Quidam RB by Quinar-Cardino (ZG Bröcking, Borken), line 1446, and Sanne Thijssen (NED) took seventh place.
Two Holsteiner winners in St. Gallen
The victorious German team in the Nations Cup at St. Gallen included no fewer than two Holsteiner horses: Coolio, a son of Casalito-Quidam de Revel, line 2067, bred by Martina Wirtz (Hohenzieritz) and ridden by Marcus Ehning. And Elysium by Zirocco Blue–Coronado I (Manfred Tummes, Mühlheim), line 4539, ridden by Hans-Dieter Dreher.
Dressage
Holsteiner horses were also represented in the Hamburg dressage arena: Marie Holtfreter (GER) rode her Amorio by Ampère-Latus (Hans Joachim Lueer, Niendorf), line 776, and finished seventh in the Intermédiaire I. Carbon by Carantas-Castellini (Dr Inke Radü, Neuglasau) took ninth place with Roland Metzler (GER) in the saddle. He was followed by the Clarimo son Claretto (MV. Caletto I, Friedrich Meyer, Nottfeld), line 4847, and Maximilian Bleck (GER) in tenth place.
You can find further successes of Holsteiners from around the world here:
Photo: Stefan Lafrentz
Video: ClipMyHorse.tv
