World Championships for 6-yo: Faustino G takes the lead

Since this morning, the world's best young horses have returned to Verden—the home of the Hanoverian studbook—for their respective World Championships. A total of 45 horses appeared before the judging panel comprising Monique Peutz Vegter, Kurt Christensen, William Warren, and Juan Carlos Campos Escribano.

For a change, the Danish horse leading the World Championship is not owned by Andreas Helgstrand. However, the "G" suffix is ​​no stranger to the event. Like Quinn G—a triple World Champion (winning at age 5 with Betina Jæger, and at ages 6 and 7 with Fiona Bigwood)—Faustino G was bred by Helene Geervliet. She is a successful breeder who also produced Daan G, the top-priced horse at the 2024 Hanoverian licensing auction, where he sold for €2 million. Sired by Blue Hors Farrell out of a Sezuan mare (Sezuan was also ridden by Betina Jæger), Faustino G competed at last year's World Championships, finishing fourth overall and taking second place in the Danish 5-year-old championship that autumn. This morning, the bay horse earned scores of 9.7 for the trot, 8.5 for the walk, 9.3 for the canter (despite a flying change that was perhaps a bit short ), 9.5 for submission (with a slightly hurried rein-back), and 9.3 for general impression, resulting in an overall average of 92.600%.

Andreas Helgstrand was not far off the mark, however, as one of his recruits took second place: Dizzy, a daughter of Hesselhøj Donkey Boy and Blue Hors Zack, presented by Merita Hagren. The Finnish rider—who had previously competed at these World Championships in 2021, 2024, and 2025—and the chestnut mare kept the suspense alive until the very end of the class; with a score of 89.200%—including 9s for the trot, walk, and future potential, and 8.8s for the canter and future potential—they knocked Isabell Werth and V Power off the podium for the day.

Having already made a name for himself earlier this year by winning the Weltmeyer Prize, Sir Gribaldi—ridden by Italian Beatrice Arturi but competing under the German flag—finished third with a score of 88.200%. The Sprehe Stables stallion (by Secret out of All Inclusive)—who had placed 24th (!) in the Small Final of the German 5-Year-Old Championship last year—has clearly gained valuable experience; he was awarded scores of 8.6 for the trot, 8.7 for the walk, 8.9 for the canter, 9.0 for submission, and 8.9 for general impression/potential, resulting in an average of 88.200%.

In fourth place is V Power—owned by Andreas Helgstrand—ridden by Isabell Werth. Despite her illustrious career, this marks only the German rider's third World Championship for Young Horses and her first time competing in the Verden arena. Her debut was back in 2000 at the event in Arnhem, where she rode Richard Kimble—a Westphalian by Ribbeck—in the 6-year-old division. In 2023, she presented Valdiviani in the 7-year-old class at Ermelo, where the bay horse finished fifth. A horse with a classic stallion look, V Power is by Viva Gold out of a Fidertanz mare; today, he scored 9.5 for the trot, 7.2 for the walk—where a bit more shoulder freedom might have been appreciated—and 9.7 for an uphill, ground-covering canter. He also earned 8.8 for submission, despite picking up the wrong lead at the start of the canter, and 8.9 for general impression, resulting in an overall average of 88.200%.

Full results HERE

crédit photo : FEI/Leanjo de Koster