Grand prix glory at HOYS

Germany’s Hauke Luther and Caresino are clear winners of the final international class at the Horse of the Year Show

Germany’s Hauke Luther, who had been consistency itself throughout the week of the Horse of the Year Show, got his reward when he and his huge bay Caresino took the £7,500 first prize in the equestria.net Grand Prix.

The 36-year-old, who was competing at his first indoor show with this 18hh Holsteiner, who was produced by his brother, produced a stunning round to beat five others in an enthralling jump-off.

John Whitaker set the standard with a lovely clear on Calvaro FCS, but he was immediately relegated by Mark Armstrong and the active little mare, Elise.

Ireland’s Cameron Hanley came agonisingly close on Lynne Bevan’s former ride, Jerome, before Hauke, whose win also gave him the leading rider award, set off on Caresino, who has an incredibly long stride and is also amazingly agile for his size.

They took almost 2sec off the time and this proved good enough when the holders, Robert Smith and Mr Springfield, were faster, but at the expense of a huge vertical en route.

Hauke, who made his first Wembley appearance last year, is a big fan of the show.

“I love it here. The atmosphere is so good,” he said.

John Renwick had earlier scored his second victory of the show when Brookend Fuehrer stormed to victory in the speed horse of the year class.

Despite an early draw, the man from Essex proved unbeatable, his closest challenges coming from Billy Twomey on the versatile stallion Give Me Remus and John Whitaker, who would have been close to winning but for a misunderstanding over a turn with Hunter’s Level.

Martha Beaumont and the amazing pony Colton Maelstrom looked a class apart to win the Paul Fabrications Leading Junior Show Jumper of the Year , in which the sole double clear in a terrific time left the 15-year-old, who commutes between her home in Northumbria and her pony’s stable in Essex, a well-earned victory.