The German Jumping and Dressage Derby 2023 got underway in Klein Flottbek, Hamburg, on Wednesday and it was Brazil's Carlos Ribas and the 9-year-old Trix (Asterix E Z x Skippy II) that won the CSI4* 1.45m Derby Tour, which was the first qualifier for the Hamburg Derby presented by IDEE KAFFEE. With a time of 72.47 seconds, the Brazilian rider took the win in the 1.45 competition against the clock.
“Trix is incredibly fast; last year when he was eight years old, he was second in the Speed Derby at Hickstead. John Whitaker is his breeder. I've had him since he was seven," Ribas said in a press release from The German Jumping and Dressage Derby. "Trix likes natural jumps and is very ambitious, which of course makes it easy for me. I also have a second horse in the Derby Tour, Night Secret Z. Both of them will also jump the second qualifier on Friday, then I will decide who jumps on Sunday.”
Ireland's Denis Lynch and the 17-year-old Rubens LS La Silla (Hh Rebozo x Cash) took the runner-up position with a time of 77.81, while his compatriot Shane Breen (IRL) and Scarteen (Cardento x Chellano Z) placed third in 78.67. Marvin Jüngel (GER) and Koradina R (Lancoon x Sir Shutterfly) finished fourth in 80.49 and Philipp Makowei (GER) fifth in 81.32 aboard Queo II (Quintender x Rapallo).
The first five-star class of the weekend, the 1.45m NFR Trophy, went to Italy's Emanuele Gaudiano and the 11-year-old Crack Balou (Balou du Reventon x Chacco-Blue). With a time of 29.18 in phase two of the competition, Gaudiano took the win ahead of Johannes Ehning (GER) and C-Jay (Carthago x Contender) in second in 30.45. Yuri Mansur (BRA) and Miss Blue Mystic Rose (Chacco-Blue x VDL Zirocco Blue) placed third in 31.34, while Stefan Engbers (GER) and Baju NRW (Balou du Rouet x Calido I) finished fourth in 32.21 and Lars Bak Andersen (DEN) fifth in 32.42 aboard Piccadilly K (Perigueux x Loredo).