Isabell Werth and Madeleine Winter-Schulze's Rhinelander gelding El Santo NRW won the 2010 Medien Cup Finals for upcoming Grand Prix horses held at the 2010 German Dressage Championships in Munster, Germany, on Sunday 15 August 2010.
The 9-year old El Santo (by Ehrentusch x Rhytmus) scored 76,000% in the Short Grand Prix and claimed the overall victory in the 2010 Medien Cup Finals. Helen Langehanenberg and her mount of three months, the Westfalian licensed stallion Damon Hill NRW (by Donnerhall x Rubinstein) finished second with 73,66%. Twenty-five year old Anna Katharina Luttgen and the 10-year old Holsteiner gelding Lamborghini rose to the occasion and slotted in third with 72,244%.
Already in the qualification round in Munster (the Intermediaire II) Werth and El Santo reigned supreme, but Langehanenberg came surprisingly close. In the Finals the difference was bigger as El Santo was fresh and in front of the aids, whereas Damon Hill only ran on a tank half full.
"It was a great round for El Santo," said Christoph Hess, who was the commentator at the Finals. "The pair improved in the test with each movement." The 40-year old Werth was very pleased with her victory. "I'm very happy about this performance," she said. "El Santo was very focused and technically high level. His strength is that he has no weaknesses. He can do nice flying changes, super pirouettes and he has real sit in the piaffe."
Helen Langehanenberg was equally pleased with the reserve champion's position. "I'm very happy about the second place and even more so because I got to ride a sensationally well trained horse from Ingrid Klimke. Damon Hill always wants to work and like that we can really work together." Helen is aware that the liver chestnut stallion lacked power at the end of the test. "We still need to work a little on strength but there are no limits to his potential."
Hess also applauded Anna Katharina Luttgen's ride. "That pair has a really nice test ridden at full risk but with good control. There were many highlight but there was especially the strong passage."
Text © FN
Photo © Silke Rottermann
Related Link
Scores 2010 German Dressage Championships