Reigning European Champion André Thieme won Friday's CSI4* 1.50m Prize of Deutschen Kreditbank AG at The German Jumping and Dressage Derby 2023 in Hamburg – the second qualifier for Sunday's traditional derby at Klein Flottbek. Riding the 15-year-old Contadur (Conteros x Kolibri), Thieme took the win with a time of 98.43 seconds. On Sunday however, Thieme will be opting for another horse; the 9-year-old Paule S (Perigueux x Sir Shutterfly). “Contadur did a wonderful finish here today in Hamburg," Thieme explained in a press release from from The German Jumping and Dressage Derby. "It was clear that it would be his last derby, and Paule made it so easy for me today and jumped so confidently... the decision is straight-forward for me.” 

Ireland's Shane Breen and the 10-year-old Scarteen (Cardento x Chellano Z) took the runner-up position with a time of 99.04 seconds. "He's very brave and I'm very happy with him, he jumped great," Breen said. On Sunday, Breen is planning to ride Can Ya Makan, with whom he finished second in the derby in 2019. “He gave me a very good feeling again today and he is in top form. He is also very experienced and that makes me confident for Sunday," Breen explained. 

The third place went to the 21-year-old Marvin Jüngel (GER) and Balou's Erbin (Be Bravo x Consul).  "It was a lot of fun riding in front of so many spectators and the mare gave me a very good feeling," Jüngel said. Germany's Frederic Tillmann and DSP Comanche VL (Cellestial x Loredo) finished fourth, followed by William Whitaker (GBR) in fifth aboard Flamboyant III (Cardento x Niveau).

The CSI5* 1.55m presented by Flottbek 5Star went to Switzerland's former world number one Steve Guerdat and the 10-year-old Is-Minka (Mylord Carthago x Flyinge Quite Easy 958). With a time of 39.37 in the jump-off, Guerdat took the win ahead of his compatriot Edouard Schmitz and Gamin van'T Naastveldhof (Chacco Chacco x Toulon) in second in 39.87. Brazil's Yuri Mansur and Miss Blue Mystic Rose (Chacco-Blue x VDL Zirocco Blue) placed third in 40.26, while Belgium's Abdel Said and Obama van Ostaayen (Etoulon VDL x Chacco-Blue) finished fourth in 44.49, followed by Shane Breen  in fifth in 44.82 aboard Cato Boy (Commissario x Lord Pezi).