Anna-Lena Kracht Wins 2025 Hamburg Dressage Derby

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2025 CDI Hamburg

In front of a packed crowd in the Klein Flottbek city park, Hamburg local Anna-Lena Kracht won the 2025 Hamburg Dressage Derby on Sunday 1 June 2025.

Despite its 5* status, the 2025 edition of the CDI Hamburg only attracted 12 combinations for the 5* tour and 9 for the 3* tour. The addition of a Louisdor Cup qualifier pleased the crowds which came in droves to this German historic equestrian event on the weekend.

Derby Final with Horse Change

The competition culminated on Sunday with the Derby final with horse change. The three highest ranked riders of the 3* Grand Prix qualified for the Derby and they were Anna-Lena Kracht, Felix Kneese, and Kristin Biermann.

In the final Kracht achieved the highest score on her own 15-year old Hanoverian Florinio (by Floriscount x Don Vino) with 70.733%. She also finished with the fourth best result on Biermann's 16-year old Oldenburg gelding Queensland (by Quaterback x Davignon II) with 68.533% and placed 9th on Kneese's 15-year old Oldenburg San Simeon (by Sir Donnerhall x Johnson) with 65.767%. Those three scores totalled gave Kracht the overall best result and made her the winner of the Derby.

She was second, twice behind Kathleen Keller, in the 2013 AND 2014 Hamburg U25 Derby and this year won the senior big tour Derby Final. "Being in the final was a huge success for me. It's indescribable to emerge as the winner here," she stated.

Kneese placed second overall with 69,900 (San Someon), 67.067% (Florinio), and 65,867% (Queensland) while Biermann landed third place with 68.533% (Queensland), 67.233% (Florinio) and 66.833% (San Simeon).

Anna-Lena Kracht

The 33-year old Anna-Lena Kracht came through "the system", gaining her first competition experience in the youth divisions.

She began showing in 2003 with Sir Otto (by Saturn x Shaston Paradox) and with Willi (by Don Schufro x Feiner Stern) finished 22nd in the individual test at the 2006 German Junior Championships and 8th overall in 2007. She made her international show debut as a junior on Willi and Rubicon (by Rouletto x Woronesch) in 2007, competing at the CDI's in Neubeeren and Elmshorn. In 2008 she also showed Rubino Royal (by Rubin Royal x Alabaster), while in 2009 jumper Quindo (by Quantum x Loran) briefly joined the ranks. She was 12th on Willi at the 2009 Preis der Besten, and 18th and 33rd with Rubinio Royal at the 2008 and 2009 German Junior Championships,

In 2010 she partnered with Bernadette Brune's Trakehner Kasimir TSF and landed 28th place in the individual test at the German Young Riders Championships. She also showed him in the Louisdor Cup qualifier as well as at small tour level through 2011 with CDI starts in Hagen, Neubeeren, Wiesbaden. She was squad listed with Kasimir and finished 5th at the 2011 German Young Riders Championships.

Between 2012 and 2014 her main ride were Corifeo (by Contendro x Silvano) and Hendrix (by His Highness x Regazzoni). With Corifeo she was 8th at the 2012 German Young Riders Championships, while Hendrix she showed in one international, in the small tour in Neumunster in February 2014, before the horse sold to the U.S.A for Michelle Batalla to ride. Kracht returned to the Hamburg Derby as an U25 level in 2016 with Laurano (by Lauries Crusador xx x Aljano) and placed 9th.

An 8-year break from international showing followed between 2014 and 2022. Kracht's international ambitions were not as prolific as her commitment to show nationally. In the past three years the professional rider only showed at short-distance CDI's.

In April 2022 she returned to the CDI ring with Turmalino K (by Temptation x Carolus) at small tour level in Hamburg, Neumunster and Herning. Her first ever international Grand Prix test she rode on Florinio at the CDI Hagen in June 2024, followed by the CDI Wroclaw in October 2024. This year she rode Questico (by Quantensprung x Hohenstein) in the small tour at the CDI-W Neumunster before heading to the Hamburg with Florinio, which she trained from young horse level to Grand Prix herself.

Kracht works out of her parents' barn in Hamburg-Bergsted. She trained with Hartwig Burfeind and now works with Belgian Jan Lens.

Previous Winners
Katharina Haas Wins the 2024 Hamburg Dressage Derby
Andrea Timpe Wins the 2023 Hamburg Dressage Derby
Kathleen Kröncke Wins the 2022 Hamburg Dressage Derby
Frederic Wandres Wins the 2019 Hamburg Dressage Derby
Emma Kanerva Wins 2018 Hamburg Dressage Derby
Emile Faurie Wins 2017 Hamburg Dressage Derby
Borja Carrascosa Wins 2016 Hamburg Dressage Derby
Anabel Balkenhol Wins the 2015 Hamburg Dressage Derby
2014 Hamburg Dressage Derby: a Scandinavian Show Down
Fabienne Lutkemeier Wins the 2013 Hamburg Dressage Derby
Scores: 2011 CDI Hamburg
Scores: 2008 CDN Hamburg
Scores: 2007 CDN Hamburg
Scores: 2006 CDN Hamburg
Scores: 2005 CDN Hamburg
Scores: 2004 CDN Hamburg
Scores: 2003 CDN Hamburg
Scores: 2000 CDI Hamburg