CDI5* Grand Prix of Munich to Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Kismet

The CDI5* Grand Prix in Munich was a bit of a newcomers’ competition with the Louisdor finalists Katharina Hemmer/Special Gold and Benjamin Werndl/Quick Decision, Dante’s Pearl and Charlott-Maria Schürmann, who are also competing in their first Grand Prix season, and last but not least Jessica von Bredow-Werndl with Kismet, who had their baptism of fire in front of a large audience in Munich. It’s fair to say that it was a success.

If you compare her first Grand Prix performance in Italy with today, you have to say: there is a world of difference. The mare has gained in confidence, pulls more consistently to the bit and presented herself today with great ease and naturalness.

There were still a few moments when she cowered – during backwards and in strong walk. But for most of the test, Jessica von Bredow-Werndl had her safely in front of the driving aids. It is clear that the 74.522 percent with which she won the test today is by no means the end of the story. The piaffe can be even more active, the transitions even more fluid. In the strong walk, the mare did not yet immediately reach a relaxed stride and in the flying changes she can still gain in suppleness and elevation.

But all in all a very harmonious and elegant round, which ended with a clear Personal Best for both of them.

Personal best number two

The duo in second place are no longer newcomers, but established pairs: Raphael Netz with his 2024 World Cup finalist, Great Escape Camelot. Netz, who got his 15-year-old sport partner under the saddle when he was still working as a rider for the Werndl siblings in Abenhausen, once again impressed with his fine riding. It was the first outdoor competition of the season for the pair and at the beginning of the test his Johnson son still seemed a little over-motivated. But then he got more and more comfortable in the arena and had many highlights, especially in the second half of the test, for example in the zig-zag traversals and the pirouettes, finely accompanied by Netz, who is also a role model in terms of precise test riding – which also speaks for the permeability of his horse, as could be seen in the transition from canter to collected trot, for example. 73.783 percent is also a new Personal Best for the pair.

Quicks in third place with power

The third pair from Aubenhausen in today’s competition were Benjamin Werndl and Quick Decision. The gelding had already made his five-star debut in the Nations Cup in Fontainebleau. There he received 72.652 percent in the Grand Prix – exactly the result with which the pair also came out of the test today.

The ten-year-old Quaterhall son showed himself to be dynamic and confident in his lessons today, had one beat fault in the first strong trot, but otherwise no lesson faults. He showed a beautiful lateral pattern, but appeared very busy in the mouth. He did not lock up, but his mouth was clearly open from time to time.

Black Beauty I

When Charlott-Maria Schürmann’s Dante’s Pearl sets off at a strong trot, you can only be thrilled! Carrying power really becomes thrust. This is not pedaling, but exemplary swing development. And the Dante Weltino daughter is now also capable of maximum collection. The passages have always been a highlight, now the piaffe are also very secure in diagonal time, relaxed and diligently on the ground – at least in the first half of the test. Despite not having the right rhythm in the walk sequences and a wrong canter here too, the pair were deserved winners right up to the last center line. Here, Dante’s Pearl probably thought that holding and greeting was required at X instead of piaffe. That was expensive! Nevertheless, this pair are two to keep an eye on! 72.609 percent and fourth place today (with individual scores between 70.761 and 75.109 percent).

Black Beauty II

Katharina Hemmer’s future hope Special Gold PCH also made his first five-star appearance today. The ten-year-old son of San Amour is the third Weihegold offspring to compete in the big arena on Father’s Day weekend. In the first piaffe-passage tour, the pair were still looking for their rhythm and the black horse did not really let go in the strong walk. But in the second piaffe-passage-reprise you could see the possibilities he has in the piaffe. He got into the beat very nicely, lowered himself and moved off lively. The canter out of the passage was expensive, where he initially started in outside canter. They also had highlights in the canter. Overall, however, it is noticeable that the stallion still lacks the strength and routine to be able to perform all the movements with ease, for example the pirouettes, which are good in the beginning, but where he then loses diligence. With a score of 70.370 percent, the two finished in sixth place.

The other winners

Between the two black horses was a former Louisdor Prize winner, namely Bonheur de la Vie, trained by Sandra Nuxoll, who has been beautifully presented by the Swiss rider Charlotta Rogerson since last year. 72.065 percent is the second-best Grand Prix result of their career together. Today they were fifth.

There was also a ribbon for Laura Strobel with Sisters Act MT OLD, who narrowly missed out on “pretty good” with 69.739 percent. Lisa Müller and D’Avie were close behind with 69.696 percent and still in the money.

Repeat offenders

Having already won the Grand Prix of the CDI3* tour yesterday, Simone Pearce’s Spanish gelding Will Marq bucked so wildly in the lap of honor due to the tickling winning blanket on his back that he briefly lost his rider. But neither Simone Pearce, Martin Fuchs’ Australian partner, nor the ten-year-old gelding were harmed during the action. Instead, they used today’s Grand Prix Special to practice leading the lap of honor once again. They also won this test with 71.340 percent.

The nine-year-old Louisdor finalist Chere Celine OLD by Governor with Lena Haßmann in the saddle took a giant leap with 71.064 percent and second place. Munich was their second international appearance after Hagen, where they had to make do with around 66.7 percent. A milestone!

Third place went to Yara Reichert and Valverde, who achieved an over 70 percent result in the Grand Prix Special for the first time. They scored 70.511 percent. In general, it was Yara Reichert’s lucky day today.

Force Majeure wins Stars of Tomorrow qualifier

It is possible that Yara Reichert was still inspired by her triumph in the morning. She won the qualifier for the semi-finals of the Derby Stars of Tomorrow with the ten-year-old Fürstenball son Force Majeure with 71.316 percent. Nicole Casper on Zabalou came second with 69.053 percent ahead of Victoria Nielsen and Princess Paula (68.816).

The pair that had been ahead yesterday in the young horse tour, Franz Trischberger’s Bordeaux-daughter Kinshasa, was withdrawn today.

You can find all the results from Munich here.