Text © World of Showjumping
It was Tobias Meyer (GER) and the 8-year-old mare Fassida v. - H (Diamant de Semilly x Capitol I) that were the fastest in Thursday's Sparkassen Youngster Cup at CHIO Aachen. This second qualifier for Saturday's young horse final, which will be open to the thirty best from Tuesday and Thursday's rounds, was set at 1.40m for the 7-year-olds and at 1.45m for the 8-year-olds.
Coming in towards the end of the class, Meyer stopped the clock at 62.50 seconds – which was good enough to take the win. Behind Meyer followed three riders from Stephan Conter's Stephex Stables: Lorenzo de Luca (ITA) with the 8-year-old mare Naomi van het Keizershof (Cardento x For Pleasure) in 63.24 seconds as runner-up, Petronella Andersson (SWE) as third-placed with the 8-year-old gelding Nithard van de Peerdenhoeve (Zirocco Blue VDL x Corland) in 64.01 and Kendra Claricia Brinkop (GER) in fourth with the 8-year-old gelding Narcos v. Smidshoeve (Toulon x Thunder van de Zuuthoeve) in 64.29. Fifth place went to Ben Maher (GBR) and the striking 7-year-old gelding Point Break (Action-Breaker x Balou du Rouet), after the pair finished in 64.50 seconds early on in the class.