Two years after Verdi TN (Quidam de Revel x Landgraf I) retired from the sport, Maikel van der Vleuten's now 20-year-old stallion finally gets his farewell ceremony at The Dutch Masters in March. With the 2020-edition cancelled due to Covid-19, and last year's show held without spectators, the stallion's retirement ceremony has had to wait, but today the organisers announced that the curtains officially close for Verdi TN at this year’s event.
"The Dutch Masters feels like a home show to me. Many friends and acquaintances have the opportunity to be there as well. It is nice when those people who have followed you all those years can be there. Besides, The Dutch Masters is a fantastic event of the highest level and that is where Verdi belongs. And I am a Brabander myself!" van der Vleuten said in a press release from The Dutch Masters.
Together, Verdi and Maikel van der Vleuten were part of the Dutch teams that took gold at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Caen and silver at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. They were also part of the Dutch teams that won gold at the 2015 European Championships in Rotterdam, and that took the victory in the 2014 Longines FEI Nations Cup Final in Barcelona. They jumped at five World Cup Finals, and four times they were in the top ten. The pair also has five-star Grand Prix victories from Madrid, Lyon and Al Ain to look back at as well as topping the World Cup in Verona. They also contributed to several Nations Cups wins for the Dutch team – to mention some of their countless successes together.
"Verdi has never let me down and has fulfilled all my dreams I had as a young boy. We made each other big,” van der Vleuten said to The Dutch Masters.
Verdi TN is currently at Team Nijhof's stables focusing on his breeding career as well as enjoying the field daily. "I have seen him at the end of December, he looks very good and he is doing very well," said van der Vleuten in the press release.
Verdi TN's farewell will take place on Sunday 13th of March just before the Rolex Grand Prix.