-- FEI press release, edited by Eurodressage
Since the retirement of her double Olympic champion horse Dalera BB in the autumn of 2024, Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (GER) has returned to the top of international dressage with her first World Cup win aboard her rising star Diallo BB.
At the 2025 CDI-W Stuttgart on 15 November 2025, the pair topped the freestyle scoring 83.095% to take a decisive victory. Her compatriot Raphael Netz (GER) claimed second place with Great Escape Camelot, scoring 80.765% to join von Bredow-Werndl as the only athlete over the 80% mark. Patrik Kittel (SWE) finished third with his World Cup 2024 Final winner Touchdown on 79.620%.
Diallo Rises to the Top
With the scores remaining tight throughout the Kur to Music, the decision who was to win the World Cup qualifier in Stuttgart remained open until the very last starter. While several horses seemed impressed by the electric atmosphere in the large Hanns-Martin-Schleyer exhibition center in the Grand Prix, the tension appeared to have settled in the freestyle.
Werndl's ride, the 10-year old Hanoverian Diallo BB (by Dancier x Floriscount) found the surroundings challenging yesterday, when they produced 73.261% to win the Grand Prix. In the Freestyle, the pair reached a new level, finishing more than three percent ahead of the field.
“In the Freestyle I could enjoy every single step down the final centreline. Diallo was so relaxed, yet still so powerful. After a pretty difficult and hot start in the Grand Prix yesterday, I didn’t expect him to be so focused today. I was so proud of him, because this arena is very electric," said Jessica von Bredow-Werndl.
Von Bredow-Werndl performed to music previously used with Zaïre-E. “This music also suits Diallo perfectly. We made a few small adjustments, but it feels wonderful to ride to these sounds again,” the German athlete smiled.
Diallo has recently received the suffix BB, indicating that her sponsor Beatrice A. Buerchler-Keller has purchased an ownership share in the gelding, who is owned by Anette Göbelsmann-Schweitzer.
Strong challenge from Netz and Pape
As the first start in the final block of five riders, von Bredow-Werndl opened an intense final stage of the competition. She was immediately followed by German based Brit Susan Pape (GBR) with Harmony sport horses' 14-year old KWPN mare Giulilanta (by Jazz x Flemmingh). The elegant chestnut mare showed excellent technique in the collected work, and riding to Tom Jones music, Pape scored 78.290% to finish sixth.
“I had a fantastic feeling today, I really enjoyed riding Camelot. He is a very special horse; I can always rely on him. He has the biggest heart and really grows in the arena," said Netz.
Netz is competing in the World Cup series with two horses this season, having also started Dieudonnee two weeks ago in Lyon (FRA). “That is new for me, but it’s great fun. In principle the Final in Fort Worth is our goal, but which World Cup qualifiers we will ride next is something we will decide along the way.”
Top Belgian performances
Belgium sent four combinations into the Freestyle in Stuttgart, with Alexa Fairchild and Larissa Pauluis finishing in the top 8. Before the break, Fairchild completed a strong test with the 14-year old KWPN bred Fairplay (by Delatio x Krack C), showing a very steady piaffe-passage tour. Their score of 75.680% placed them eighth. Fairplay was previously known as G-star when he competed for Finland at the 2023 European Championships in Riesenbeck.
Pauluis delivered an energetic test with the 15-year old KWPN bred Flambeau (by Ampere x Zeoliet) as the penultimate starter. A significant mistake in the one-tempi changes prevented a higher placing, and with 78.680% they finished fifth, unable to repeat their top-three result from Lyon.
Kittel Pursues
The final athlete to enter the arena, Patrik Kittel (SWE), was the only remaining challenger for the winning score. The 13-year old Swedish warmblood Touchdown (by Quaterback x Sack) looked fresh and expressive. With outstanding half-passes, uphill extensions and excellent pirouettes, the experienced Swedish athlete appeared headed towards an 80% score. However, Touchdown delivered a small buck at the end of an extended canter, and both the piaffes and transitions could have been more secure.
Kittel has not yet decided whether he will aim for the Final in Fort Worth, though he intends to compete at the World Cup leg in Amsterdam (NED).
Top ten results and World Cup standings
Among the top ten were Svenja Kämper-Meyer (GER) with her home-bred Amanyara M FRH (by Ampere x Davignon), and ninth-placed Delia Eggenberger (SUI) with Fairtrade (by Fiderstep x Santino), both scoring above 75%. The just 22-year-old Moritz Treffinger (GER) rode the impressive black stallion Cadeau Noir (by Christ x De Niro) to seventh place, matching his result from Herning (DEN). Treffinger has moved the horse into the senior ranks after winning kur gold at the 2025 European Under 25 Championships earlier this summer.
A standout improvement in the ranking came from Marieke van der Putten (NED) with the 10-year old KWPN bred Kuvasz . (by Glamourdale x De Niro). After finishing seventh in the Grand Prix, the pair climbed to fourth in the Freestyle with 78.765%.
After the third World Cup leg, Raphael Netz now leads the standings thanks to his impressive second place in Stuttgart. The next FEI Dressage World Cup™ leg will take place in London (GBR) on 18 and 19 December, so do not miss a hoofbeat!
Related Links
Scores: 2025 CDI-W Stuttgart
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2025-2026 World Cup show circuit