Surprise Win for Christian Ahlmann on Dourkhan Hero Z in Hamburg Derby Tournament
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Surprised Ahlmann by Young Horse's Victory in Hamburg's Equestrian Competition - Young equestrian Ahlmann expresses astonishment after encountering a talented young horse during the Sieg competition in Hamburg.
Equestrian show jumper Christian Ahlmann pulled off a shocking upset against Olympic champion Christian Kukuk at the Derby tournament in Hamburg, claiming the grand prize on the 10-year-old stallion Dourkhan Hero Z. With a fiery performance, Ahlmann edged out Kukuk on Checker, previously in first place with the fastest clear round, to secure victory as the last starter in the jump-off of the Grand Prix. The highly coveted jumping competition was the zenith of the tournament, offering a staggering prize money of 250,000 euros.
"I'm quite stunned," said the seasoned 50-year-old Ahlmann to NDR. "He really gave it his all. I'm incredibly proud of him." For the rider from Marl, this victory marked his third win in the Grand Prix of the tournament classic in Klein-Flottbek.
Kukuk falters
Despite a misstep after the penultimate obstacle, Kukuk initially appeared to be the clear winner in front of an estimated 20,000 spectators - that is, until Ahlmann took to the arena. The rider from Riesenbek had to settle for second place and a consolatory sum of 50,000 euros. Third place was snagged by Swedish rider Peder Fredricson on Vroom de la Pomme. A total of eight pairs made it to the jump-off, with five of them successfully clearing the obstacles.
94th German Derby takes center stage on Sunday
The 94th German Derby, featuring a total prize money of 120,000 euros, serves as the finale on Sunday (13:50/NDR and ARD). The 1,230-meter course, boasting famous obstacles such as the three-meter-high wall, Pulvermann's grave, and the Holsteiner oxers, is considered one of the most challenging courses in the world. In the past two years, Marvin Jüngel from Kamenz has claimed the event with Balou's Erbin[1].
Dourkhan Hero Z is a prominent member of the Zangersheide studbook, known for its role in the numerous successes achieved by Christian Ahlmann in prestigious events[1]. Previously, Ahlmann had tasted victory in Hamburg with Codex One Z in 2013 and Dominator 2000 Z in 2022[1]. More recently, Dourkhan Hero Z and Ahlmann made history by clinching their first-ever CSI5 Grand Prix win in Hamburg[1][2][3]. The pair has also amassed accolades from other major competitions like the CSI5 Grand Prix of Monterrey and the LGCT Grand Prix of Mexico City.
In the 2025 CSI5* Grand Prix of Hamburg, Dourkhan Hero Z and Ahlmann demonstrated remarkable finesse, emulating their impressive obstacle-navigating skills to secure a jump-off win with a time of 40.99 seconds[1][5].
- Christian Ahlmann, in his interview with NDR, expressed his pride in Dourkhan Hero Z and praised the stallion for its exceptional performance during the jump-off of the Grand Prix.
- The win marks another milestone in the long-standing partnership between Christian Ahlmann and Dourkhan Hero Z, a member of the Zangersheide studbook, with their past victories in prestigious events like the CSI5* Grand Prix of Monterrey and the LGCT Grand Prix of Mexico City.
