Victoria Max-Theurer's Topas victorious under Stefan Lehfellner

Last weekend, a national Grand Prix tournament took place in Ebreichsdorf, Austria. Six riders were at the start, one with Olympic experience – Stefan Lehfellner. This time he did not present his championship horse Roberto Carlos MT, but the 15-year-old Totilas son Topas, World Championship horse of Lehfellner’s partner Victoria Max-Theurer.

The joint premiere was a success. They won the Grand Prix with 70.520 percent and first place from all five judges.

From Baden-Württemberg to the top of the world

The Totilas son Topas was born in 2011 to Martin and Simone Meder, whose breeding program has already produced some outstanding horses. For example, Topas’ half-brother Lord Leopold, who was also licensed and later sold to Victoria Max-Theurer. However, the Lord Sinclair son died far too early.

Both horses, Lord Leopold and Topas, began their careers at Gestüt Birkhof as stud stallions and were trained in parallel by Nicole Casper until they were ready for Grand Prix. The stallion already had international Grand Prix successes under Nicole Casper. In 2021, before he was sold to Max-Theurer, he presented himself in outstanding form at their home show in Achleiten, finishing fourth in the Grand Prix and second in the Special. In 2022, he was already part of the World Championship line-up for Austria with Max-Theurer.

The pair also had some nice successes in 2023/24, but Max-Theurer only presented Topas once in 2025, at the beginning of April in Stadl Paura (victory in Grand Prix and Special against numerous competitors). He had not competed since then.

With their success in Ebreichsdorf, Lehfellner and Topas have now qualified for international tournaments. To qualify, Austrian pairs must have achieved at least 67 percent at national level. Lehfellner explained to Pferderevue: “We said we’d give it a try and see how it goes with us. Over the next few weeks, we will work on the finer points and then aim for an international show.”

He and Topas don’t just know each other by sight. Lehfellner has also ridden Totilas in training from time to time before.

Success trunk

The dam of Lord Leopold and Topas is the Oldenburg mare Fatima by Sandro Hit-Classiker. She is a representative of the famous Finnländerin line, which also produced Don Schufro, among others. Her dam is the great-great-granddam of both of Meder’s breeding products.

Fatima produced a total of twelve foals, including the ten-year-old Zabalou by Zalando, who was also trained by Nicole Casper up to Grand Prix level and has already been successfully presented at shows here.