By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
HAGEN, Germany, July 4, 2026–Isabell Werth on Viva Gold OLD captured the CDI4* Grand Prix Special Saturday for the sixth victory in eight starts since the partnership on the 10-year-old stallion began Big Tour four months ago.
Isabell, the most successful equestrian in Olympic sport, scored 78.894% for the win though is expected to compete Wendy de Fontaine, her Olympic gold medal mount, at the World Championships in nearby Aachen next month.
Katharina Hemmer was runner-up on the American-owned Denoix PCH with 77.362%, after taking the Grand Prix that likely has clinched a place on Germany’s team at the championships. The results at this event put to rest concerns about the fitness of the 14-year-old gelding that skipped the German championships when the horse sustained an injury.
Isabel Freese of Norway on Total Hope OLD, the Totilas sired stallion aged 14, placed third on 75.553%.
USA’s Kasey Perry-Glass on Heartbeat W.P., 14-year-old KWPN gelding that she has competed for two years, was awarded 71.341% for fifth.
Following her victory, Isabell said she was delighted with the progress of the stallion who has performed three international Specials.
“Yes, that was really super,” she exclaimed. “He has developed so much more strength and power. Especially in the canter, through the two-tempis, he really went for it. He has so much ambition now, which is fantastic.
“Of course, he was a little too forward at the end, but I’m really happy that he’s now developing that power throughout the test instead of, as he did in the beginning, losing his balance and tipping forward.”
Katharina, who had explained that Denoix did not like rain which occurred during the Grand Prix, quipped that the horse probably preferred that to the wind Saturday.
“He was definitely a little more switched on, but I didn’t actually mind that,” she said. “With the wind blowing around, I had to make sure he kept his focus on me. Even so, he was lovely to ride and didn’t make any major mistakes.”
Results:
| Rank | Competitor | Score | E | H | C | M | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Isabell Werth (GER) Viva Gold OLD | 78.894% | 78.830 | 78.085 | 77.128 | 81.489 | 78.936 |
| 2. | Katharina Hemmer (GER) Denoix PCH | 77.362% | 77.660 | 78.404 | 76.277 | 76.383 | 78.085 |
| 3. | Isabel Freese (NOR) Total Hope OLD | 75.553% | 75.851 | 76.277 | 74.787 | 75.426 | 75.426 |
| 4. | Tobias Nabben (GER) Forster 16 | 71.489% | 72.447 | 72.660 | 70.638 | 71.064 | 70.638 |
| 5. | Kasey Perry-Glass (USA) Heartbeat W.P. | 71.341% | 72.660 | 72.766 | 69.149 | 71.596 | 70.532 |
| 6. | Lisa Müller (GER) Gut Wettlkam’s D’Avie FRH | 71.042% | 71.702 | 70.638 | 71.170 | 68.191 | 73.511 |
| 7. | Susan Pape (GBR) Harmony’s Giulilanta | 70.979% | 73.723 | 70.851 | 68.723 | 69.149 | 72.447 |
| 8. | Henri Ruoste (FIN) Delaurentis FRH | 69.872% | 73.723 | 68.723 | 68.298 | 69.043 | 69.574 |
| 9. | Raphael Netz (GER) DSP Dieudonné | 69.851% | 71.383 | 71.489 | 69.681 | 71.170 | 65.532 |
| 10. | Fabienne Müller-Lütkemeier (GER) Valencia AS | 69.745% | 70.532 | 70.532 | 69.468 | 68.191 | 70.000 |
| 11. | Ulrike Prunthaller (AUT) Fleur TSF | 68.681% | 69.787 | 69.362 | 68.404 | 67.447 | 68.404 |
| 12. | Stefan Lehfellner (AUT) L’Espoir | 68.341% | 69.468 | 69.894 | 66.383 | 67.660 | 68.298 |
| 13. | Dr. Svenja Kämper-Meyer (GER) Amanyara M FRH | 68.340% | 69.043 | 68.936 | 67.234 | 68.723 | 67.766 |
| 14. | Benjamin Werndl (GER) Quick Decision FRH | 66.936% | 68.511 | 69.149 | 66.809 | 64.255 | 65.957 |
| 15. | Carina Harnisch (GER) DSP Sheldon Cooper | 66.255% | 67.447 | 67.021 | 63.723 | 66.383 | 66.702 |
 Find details on Equestrian Hub |
