For the third time in his long and illustrious career, Germany’s own Marcus Ehning won the prestigious Grand Prix of Aachen. Ehning first won the Grand Prix in 2006 with Nolte’s Kühengirl at the age of 32, then again in 2018 with Pret A Tout and on Sunday it was Stargold (Stakkato Gold x Lord Weingard) that the German maestro piloted to victory. 

“It can never get old! It’s so amazing, with this crowd and the way it went as last to go. It was incredible!” Marcus said about his third Grand Prix win in Aachen – which this year had a total prize money of 1.500.000 Euro, with 500.000 going to the winner.

“I think you could see me,” Marcus smiled when asked which emotions ran through him as he realized he was the winner of the Rolex Grand Prix – one of four Majors in the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. “I can’t really describe what it feels like, also I was not really sure; I saw the 45sec but not the end of my time, but then it was a .1 behind – and that's when I realized!”

“Stargold is such an amazing horse. I was hoping but you never know with horses,” Marcus said about his expectations ahead of the Grand Prix. “I had a quite good feeling already at the beginning of the week; Stargold really likes the ring here. He’s been in a really good shape the last two weeks, so I had a bit of hope but that I am now here and have won the Grand Prix of Aachen is unbelievable!”

And with this we look back at Marcus and Stargold's epic win in Aachen! 

All photos © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.