Stuttgart, Germany – November 14, 2024 – The class is right up his street: on Thursday at the 38th International Stuttgart German MastersHorse Show CSI 5*-W , Hans-Dieter Dreher (GE)R won the €28,200 Prize of Firma XXL-Sicherheit CSI 5*-W, the first qualifier for the second most important competition in the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle – Friday’s Stuttgart German Master CSI 5*-W (22.00 hrs). The experienced rider from the state of Baden-Württemberg was in the saddle on Vestmalle des Cotis, a French-bred 15-year-old gelding, and left his rivals trailing after storming to a clear round in in 63.56 seconds.

In doing so, he finished ahead of the world No. 1 Henrik von Eckermann (SWE), the team Olympic champion in Tokyo in 2021. Riding the 11-year-old mare Calizi, the Swede came closest to “Hansi” Dreher after stopping the clock in 64.87 seconds.

Third place went to von Eckermann’s teammate in Tokyo, Peder Fredricson (SWE). The former eventer also left all the fences standing on the 18-year-old gelding Catch Me Not S, but took 65.38 seconds.

“I came up with a super performance today. Vestmalle was in brilliant form,” said the beaming victor, Dreher. “I had a piece of luck when turning sharply for the 6^th but everything stayed up nevertheless.”

Only the Top 12 from today’s class combined with Friday’s second qualifier for the Prize of the Outletcity Metzingen (17.00 hrs) are then qualified for tomorrow evening’s Stuttgart German Master CSI 5*-W which has a 105,000-euro purse. Last year’s winner was the Briton Harry Charles (GBR) atop Aralyn Blue.

Final Results – €28,200 Prize of Firma XXL-Sicherheit CSI 5*-W

1) Hans-Dieter Dreher (GER) & Vestmalle des Cotis – 0 – 63.56

2) Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) & Calizi – 0 / 0 – 64.87

3) Peder Fredricson (SWE) & Catch Me Not S – 0 / 0 – 65.38

Source: Press Release from the Stuttgart German Masters

Photos: © Stuttgart German Masters / Markus Bechert

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