It can jump, we are fairly certain. Sergio Alvarez Moya and G&C Wolf. Screenshot via ClipMyHorse.
When you are young and innocent, you dream of winning the Olympics. But by the time a rider has committed themself to a life on the world class show circuit, everyone knows the insider’s dream is to win at Aachen. The horse capital of the known universe, the epicenter of modern show jumping, Aachen is everything. Let’s see who took home a piece of the glory today.
All the FEI stars brought along their up-and-comers to contest an intensely competitive young horse class, but the battle was ultimately won by Sergio Alvarez Moya of Spain aboard the inevitable future superstar, G&C Wolf.
Sergio Álvarez Moya and G&C Wolf – CHIO Aachen
Watch #GandCFarm rider Sergio Álvarez Moya and G&C Wolf on their way to a win in the Sparkassen Youngsters-Cup at CHIO Aachen!
Posted by G&C Farm on Tuesday, July 18, 2017
The seven-year-old KWPN gelding by Harley VDL out of Anna-Nita claimed the Sparkassen Youngsters Cup with the fastest clean round of the day in the Table A class, just edging magnificent performances by Gregory Wathelet (BEL) on Sandero and Beezie Madden (USA) on HHS Hercules.
Wolf got started on the FEI circuit in 2015 with Lukasz Appel of Poland before Sergio got the ride mid-season, and the horse produced truly phenomenal results for a young horse. He got four long months off over the winter just to be a horse, and Sergio finds this to be very beneficial to his mounts’ long term careers.
“One is sometimes inclined to do too much, too early with the good horses,” Sergio said after his win. “which is why I didn’t compete with him at any shows. I competed in two small classes with him last week (at LGCT Chantilly). He didn’t feel quite as good there. He was a little spooky. The show routine was lacking somewhat.”
But Aachen must have been on Wolf’s life bucket list as well, because the young gentleman came to life in the electric atmosphere of Germany’s most famous venue.
“He likes this stadium! That underlines the quality of a horse. The good horses excel in such an atmosphere. Others are shy and under-perform.”
Gregory Wathelet and Sandero. Screenshot via ClipMyHorse
The eight-year-old Sandero also made a big impression today with Gregory Wathelet in the irons; the pair were less than a second off the winning pace, and the horse has leagues of potential for the future. By Sandro Boy out of Casandra, the Holsteiner gelding has already had World Cup qualifying scores for Greg, and the sky is the limit.
Beezie Madden and Hercules. Screenshot via ClipMyHorse.
America’s sweetheart Beezie Madden will no doubt be over the moon with a third place finish for her young horse, HHS Hercules, an eight-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding who she just got the ride on at Spruce Meadows in mid-June, but are clearly already clicking. Owned by Beezie’s longtime benefactor Abigail Wexner, the gelding was brought up the ranks by Miguel Bravo of Portugal before coming to the U.S. earlier this year. We hope to see much more of these two!
Top Results, Young Horse Class Aachen:
CHIO Aachen 2017: Start Lists and Live Results, Jumping Schedule, Full Competitor’s List
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