This afternoon Vitalis convincingly won the Stallions of the Year Prix St. George class with his Norwegian rider Isabel Freese (74.298%). The chestnut stallion, sire of Victoria’s Secret, the talented winner of the qualifications for the five-year-olds yesterday, showed where the mare got her incredible qualities from. The Vivaldi-son made a few mistakes, but left no doubt about his talent for the future.
Vitalis was the vice champion of the NRW-Hauptkörung in Westphalia Germany 2009 and also participated in the World Breeding Dressage Championships for Young Horses in Verden. Chairman of the judges Jacques van Daele: “This class entailed a lot of quality, but Vitalis was head and shoulders above the rest. He scored good marks for his basis gaits. Today he was a bit short in the neck, but if that improves in the Freestyle tomorrow he will easily score 80%. He performs the test with so much quality and little effort: a horse that makes you sit on the edge of your seat.”
Ann-Christin Wienkamp placed second with Royal Classic, a son of Royal Highness. The pair scored 70.526% and thereby stayed ahead of Stefanie Wolf and Rocky Lee (s.Rock Forever) (69.912%). Van Daele: “A few stallions were distracted today, but the quality was good. I love the fact that at this event we both see the youngest horses in action and how their predecessors have developed. For six years I have judged young horses in Verden and people always wonder what will be the next step for this horses. Well, they can see them back here now. And those horses prove to be able to live up to the expectations back then. A succession from the very young horses to the future.”
Tomorrow the eight years and older stallions can be admired in the Freestyle to Music.
