The talented young horses opened the day in the Main Stadium of the Aachen Soers in the Sparkassen-Youngsters-Cup today. Nicola Philippaerts won the class with a horse that his father and his brother have competed with so far.

Belgian’s Nicola Philippaerts and the eight-year-old Selle Français gelding, Gadget Mouche by Andiamo Semilly, jumped to victory in 58.16 seconds in the second of three competitions that make up the Sparkassen-Youngsters-Cup. He finished ahead of the number one in the world rankings, Henrik von Eckermann (SWE), who had saddled the BWP stallion, Steely Dan by Hardrock Z. The pair took 59.11 seconds to master the 440-metre long, 1.45-metre high course that comprised of eleven obstacles and 13 fences. The Canadian show-jumper, Erynn Ballard, secured herself third place with the Zangersheide-bred mare, Marieke Z Santa Rosa by Moncler van Overis (60.06).

Nicola Philippaerts and Gadget Mouche already jumped clear into eight place in the first round of the youngsters tour on Tuesday. Even though Aachen is the pair’s first international performance. Un until now the gelding was primarily ridden by Philippaerts’ father Ludo and most recently by his younger brother, Thibault. There were pragmatic reasons for the change in rider: “I am allowed to ride here in Aachen this year and thought it would be a good arena for him. He proved today that he likes the stadium here in Aachen. And of course – when you come to Aachen you bring your best young horses with you, because this is always a special show.”

The fact that 20 of the 35 young horses that competed in the Sparkassen-Youngsters-Cup this afternoon jumped clear is an indication of how good the young horses here are. What makes Gadget Mouche special for Philippaerts? “I think he is very cool. He is not frightened and he has an inner calm. What’s more, he has a lot of scope and is careful. We have high hopes in him for the future.” It is not yet decided which of the Philippaerts brothers, whether Nicola or Thibault, will profit from the young talent in future. “We haven’t planned that yet. First of all we planned for him to compete in Aachen and we’ll see what happens after that. I hope we do well in the Final!” The Final that will be decided by a jump-off is on the agenda on Saturday.

Willem Greve notched up the biggest victory in his career at The Dutch Masters after riding to victory with Highway TN N.O.P in the Rolex Grand Prix. An interview with the 41-year-old Dutch rider, who is now travelling to the CHIO Aachen as the contender for the Rolex Grand Slam.

The jump-off in the Rolex Grand Prix was particularly exciting at The Dutch Masters this year. What was it like for you?

Being the last to go in a jump-off is always a special challenge. I started warming up really early so that I could watch Martin Fuchs and Henrik von Eckermann ride. When I saw Martin’s round, I thought it wouldn’t be possible to go any faster. But Henrik actually succeeded in beating his time. I would never have believed that I could ride even faster than that. But my horse jumped superbly. Heading for the last oxer we found the ideal approach, everything simply went perfectly. That was an incredible feeling. Winning a class like that, and to top it all off in front of your home crowd, is an absolute dream. Everything about this moment was simply perfect.

Your sports partner for this special victory was Highway TN N.O.P. What is he like?

He is a stallion with an incredible attitude. He is very careful and at the same time extremely ambitious. We have been a team now for over five years and know each other inside out. I know that I can always rely on him in decisive moments and he always goes that extra mile in the ring.

The Rolex Grand Slam is a prestigious series on the international jumping circuit. What do you think distinguishes the four Majors?

The Rolex Grand Slam is the crowning glory of our sport. Everything is in a class of its own at all of the Majors. The best riders and the best horses compete there. It is like Wimbledon or Roland Garros in tennis. Being able to take part at these shows is an honour for us riders.

Only one rider has ever succeeded in winning the Rolex Grand Slam to-date: Scott Brash. How high do you think the probability is that another show-jumper will manage to pull off this feat again?

I think the longer the series exist, the more all of us are realising, how incredible Scott’s performance actually was. But McLain Ward got really close again last year. So, I guess nothing is impossible in our sport. But winning three times in a row, is definitely a huge challenge. Especially since the four Majors and the related demands they place in the riders are so different.

You are travelling to the CHIO Aachen as the contender for the Rolex Grand Slam. Does that put you under a certain amount of pressure or are you taking the whole thing quite calmly?

I am simply proud that I am going to be able to compete in Aachen and will try to prepare my horses as well as I can for this show. I have ridden in Aachen twice so far. I had a very good week one time, and a not so good one the other. All of the horses I am taking with me to Aachen this year have never jumped in this impressive Main Stadium before. So, I am very eager to see how it goes.

What standing does the CHIO Aachen have for you?

Aachen is simply Aachen. This show can´t be compared to any other show in the world and I am so pleased that I am able to compete there again this year.

The Course Designer, Frank Rothenberger, prophesied it: Richard Vogel is going to be the man to beat in the Turkish Airlines-Prize of Europe. How right he was.

In line with the tenth anniversary of the partnership between the CHIO Aachen and Turkish Airlines, it was Richard Vogel, who left his fellow competitors trailing behind in the Turkish Airlines-Prize of Europe 2024. Twelve of the 45 pairs had reached the jump-off, including seven from Germany. Vogel was already extremely successful at the CHIO Aachen last year. And in four competitions so far this year he already rode to victory in one and came twice three times. After his triumph earlier this morning he joked that he wanted to continue his series of top placings, but added immediately that it would hardly be possible. And yet he has now added a further victory to his list of top placings after winning the Turkish Airlines-Prize of Europe. His fantastic, ten-year old Chaman son, Cepano Baloubet, carried him to victory.

Vogel and Cepano Baloubet were the ninth pair in the jump-off. Up until then McLain Ward (USA) and Callas were in the lead after a perfect round. When Vogel entered the ring, the spectators started to clap rhythmically and cheered him on. It wasn’t hard to guess who was the crowd’s favourite on Wednesday evening. And Vogel’s fans weren’t disappointed. From the first fence onwards, the man who comes from Baden-Württemberg took advantage of the natural speed and agility of his chestnut gelding. The clock stopped at 42.44 seconds, an incredible 1.62 seconds faster than Ward and Callas, although no one would have believed their time could be beaten. Thunderous applause broke out and on the way to the exit Richard Vogel kept pointing at his four-legged partner as if to say: “He deserves the applause”.

Later Vogel confirmed: “I was very happy with how Cepano jumped. He really fought for me today. I knew from last year, when he came second in the Prize of NRW and the Allianz-Prize that he feels at home in the ring. Some horses grow when they enter the arena at the Soers, whereas others are intimidated. He belongs to those, who grow, and I sensed that today.” Cepano actually saved him slightly today. “I watched McLain and I know that when he is front he is difficult to beat. That put me under a bit of extra pressure. I was almost slightly too aggressive and didn’t ride everything as perfectly as I had planned. And he helped me out today.”

The crowd also contributed towards Cepano’s top form, Vogel stated, “The atmosphere in this class with the floodlights and all the spectators is simply incredible. This is the first class where all the riders want to be in best form. There is a special atmosphere even in the warm-up area. And when you ride into the ring, it is even more intense. That makes us fly even higher.”

McLain Ward came second with a time of 44.06 seconds. Fun fact: While Vogel was spending the winter in Wellington, he trained with McLain Ward. The latter said after this evening: “There is nothing I could possibly still teach him.” Vogel’s plans for the rest of the week are pretty obvious: to continue this series of success. “I hope that wasn’t the last rosette we collect here,” he said modestly. Ward on the other hand sounded very decisive regarding his plans for the rest of the week: “That Richie comes second.”

Jana Wargers finished third with the Oldenburg-bred mare, Dorette. She took just one hundredths of a second longer to cross the finish line compared to Ward and Callas. She was totally happy and not at all disappointed. “We have the two fastest riders here and they were in the lead. I knew it was going to be difficult. Furthermore this is the horse (Dorette) I am riding in the Grand Prix on Sunday. So, of course I did try, but I didn’t want to overdo it.”

The CHIO Aachen Head of Sport, Birgit Rosenberg, confirmed the superb atmosphere: “In spite of the rain and the windy weather, there was a fantastic atmosphere and the riders confirmed that it was super sport here today. I am very much looking forward to the rest of show and think it got off to a super start today.”

It doesn’t always have to be the Grand Prix to put a huge smile on a top show-jumper’s face. Mexico’s World Championship rider, Eugenio Garza Perez, was able to name three reasons today that made his victory in the Prize of StädteRegion Aachen in memory of Landrat Hermann-Josef Pütz so special.

Because apart from the fact that it is always wonderful to win a 1.50 metre class at a five-star show, Eugenio Garza Perez first of all declared: “Winning here in Aachen – is a dream come true!” What’s more the Mexican show-jumper was elated for his four-legged sports partner, the 16-year-old Zangersheide-bred, Victer Finn DH Z. “Claiming the victory with this horse makes it even more memorable. We have such a long history together. He deserved it.”

This long, joint history began just under nine years ago. “We have done everything together, from Young Rider classes, through to championships. He is simply an incredible horse. He has had a bit of bad luck with injuries. That is why he has never jumped at top level, which in my opinion he deserved to do. I am simply so happy for the horse – to see him winning here happy and healthy, it is fantastic!”

And who came second? Richard Vogel once again. He already picked up the silver rosette with his Hanoverian-bred gelding, Cydello, yesterday in the opening jumping competition, today they added a second one to their collection. The Mexican duo took 27.43 seconds to complete the second phase of the 1.50 metre two phase class. “Flying Vogel” and Cydello took 28.07 seconds, which was plenty of time to relegate Ben Maher (GBR) and Exit Remo into third place (28,71). Richard Vogel’s quota of top three placings at this year’s CHIO Aachen has thus gone up to four out of four.

Klaphake? German U25 Trophy? That rings a bell! That’s right, before Laura Klaphake won the bronze medal for Germany at the World Championships in 2018, she successfully participated in the series of the German U25 Trophy of the Stiftung Deutscher Pferdesport and Holger Hetzel, Prize of Holger Hetzel. Now her brother Enno is following in her footsteps.

This year’s German U25 Trophy was nail-biting through to the very end! Eight pairs reached the jump-off, Enno Klaphake and NC Verso Red Wine were in the lead on a time of 38.17 seconds when the winners of yesterday’s opening competition, Hannes Ahlmann and Tokyo, entered the ring. Ahlmann already won the opening round last year and made it through to the jump-off of the Final, where he unfortunately picked up four faults. Yesterday, he announced that he wanted to do better this year. He was on the road to success up until the last obstacle, clear and faster than Klaphake. But then the pole fell and dashed Ahlmann’s dream of claiming the victory on the Holy Grass in Aachen. The pair ultimately finished sixth.

One man’s joy is another man’s sorrow. Enno Klaphake: “I really didn’t think I’d win because Hannes Ahlmann was still to go, but then luckily for me he knocked a pole at the last fence.” All the greater his joy: “Winning here in Aachen – yes, exceptional! An awesome feeling!” As well as to his sponsors, who enabled him to take part in the Final in Aachen, his thanks above all went to us OS gelding, NC Verso Red Wine, a twelve-year-old Vigo d’Arsouilles son, who Enno knows inside and out. “I have had him since he was six. He is a very special horse – but that what makes him so good, because he is careful and has such a good attitude. When I fight, he fights with me!”

The German Champion of the U25 Show-jumpers and the German Ladies Champion in 2025, Mylen Kruse, finished second. She had brought the Holstein-bred stallion, Lovelight by Lord Z, to Aachen with her. The pair have not being competing together for long. It was their first ever jump-off together today. So, Kruse was delighted with the result: A clear round in a time of 40.60 seconds in the jump-off. But even if she hadn’t have won a rosette, she would have benefited from the experience in Aachen. Questioned as to what importance the German U25 Trophy had for her in comparison to her German Champion title, she replied: “Of course that was fantastic in Balve, because I was competing against the seniors there. But Aachen as an event venue compensates for that in itself. The fact that one can watch so many other riders here, is extremely valuable!” She reported that she likes learning something from everyone, “at the end of the day you can’t copy anyone, but you can pick up a few tips.”

On the other hand, Marvin Jüngel (0/41.23), who came third, had a specific role model: “Richard Vogel!”, he said as quick as a shot. Vogel won the German U25 Trophy three times in the past and ranking tenth place, he is the best German show-jumper in the world rankings. Jüngel spent several months at Vogel’s yard during the winter. Whereby he himself notched up great achievements before travelling to the Soers. In May he won the German Derby in Hamburg for the second time in succession where he had saddled his long-time partner, Balou’s Erbin. For his performance in Aachen he had opted for his nine-year-old mare, who he is setting his hopes for the future in, DSP Kontendra by Contendro. He too was overjoyed at coming third: “I am super, super proud! The mare is just growing into all of this at the moment and that was an incredibly fast jump-off. I am definitely over happy!”

Antonia Locker with Cristobal (0/41.68) and Beeke Carstensen, the sister of last year’s winner Teike Carstensen, with Carbas (0/44.94) ranked fourth and fifth respectively.