The Holsteiner of the Month for July was often described in the press as the winner of the hearts of the German Show Jumping Derby. We are talking about C the Stars by Contendro I out of Cassini II, bred by Oliver Ross from Verden. The Holsteiner, representing Line 4, and Esteban Benitez Valle (ESP) recorded the 165th clear round in the history of the Derby in Klein Flottbek.
The pair then had to go into a jump-off with Andre Thieme and Paule to decide the winner. Esteban Benitez Valle rode first, played it safe and incurred one knockdown. But then: the Spaniard had to be disqualified for missing a turning marker in the jump-off course. “I didn’t expect this success,” said the runner-up, nevertheless fully satisfied. “It was my first time in the Hamburg Derby. I just wanted to enjoy it and put in a good round,” said the stylish rider. The Spaniard, who competed in the Olympic eventing in Paris, had borrowed C the Stars from show jumper Stephan Dubsky. “I’ve had the horse for six weeks; during that time I’ve worked very intensively with him and practised the Derby obstacles,” he revealed at the subsequent press conference. C the Stars already had experience of the imposing obstacles – having finished eighth last year with Stephan Dubsky.
Photo: Stefan Lafrentz
