For the Brazilian rider, Felipe Amaral, it was “an incredible feeling” being able to compete at the CHIO Aachen. He couldn’t have wished for a better start than today in the Prize of Handwerk for his premiere at the Soers.

The Brazilian rider, Felipe Amaral, had chosen the Prize of Handwerk for his debut at the CHIO Aachen and had saddled a horse with an apt name for the purpose: Germanico T. The 14-year-old stallion is a horse that “he really likes”, explained the 30-year-old. And it was no surprise for him that Germanico knocked around five seconds off the time of his colleagues in the 1.45 metre class against the clock. “He jumped clear in both rounds of the Nations Cup in Geesteren.” He didn’t pick up any faults today either. And his time of 57.74 seconds was simply unbeatable.

The French show-jumper, Laurent Goffinet, came closest to the winning time riding the eleven-year-old Diamant de Semilly gelding, Absolut de Lacke. The grey horse took 62.75 seconds to reach the finish line clear.

A further Aachen debutante finished third: The Swedish rider, Erica Swartz, with the just nine-year-old BWP-bred mare, Madonna, a Flamenco de Semilly daughter. The clock stopped at 63.65 seconds for the pair. Incidentally, Swartz will also ride Madonna’s dam, Jovita, here in Aachen.