LILLIE KEENAN KEEPS SHINING AT CHIO AACHEN 2025 & WINS THE SPARKASSEN-YOUNGSTERS-CUP
American showjumper Lillie Keenan already knows which horse she wants to ride in the big classes at CHIO Aachen in the coming years and that’s Chagrin d’Amour, who won the final of the Sparkassen-Youngsters-Cup today in impressive style.
Killer Queen won the Sparkassen-Youngsters-Cup before carrying her rider, Daniel Deusser, to the long-awaited victory in the Rolex Grand Prix years later. Lillie Keenan already has the feeling that she could compete in the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen with Chagrin d’Amour tomorrow, and that he would perform just as well as he did in the Sparkassen-Youngsters-Cup.
No fewer than combinations reached the jump-off in today’s final, 10 of whom jumped double clear. Whether with or without faults, none of the other riders were able to match Lillie Keenan and Chagrin d’Amour’s time. Despite Keenan’s remark that she has rarely ridden him fast, the 8-year-old Luxembourg-bred son of Candy de Nantuel is evidently a natural talent. The clock stopped at 36.61 seconds, securing a clear victory.
Ben Maher (GBR) was close behind in second place with the Zangersheide-bred gelding Maddox vh Haringvliet Z (by Montender), finishing in 36.83 seconds. Ireland’s Cian O’Connor claimed third place with the Hanoverian-bred gelding Pegasus (37.19). The grey gelding descends from Checkter, who also spent a brief period at O’Connor’s yard.
Asked about Chagrin d’Amour, Keenan gushed, “To be honest, I knew I had a chance of winning this class with this horse. In his own mind, he is already a 12-year-old. He is incredibly smart. I honestly feel I could ride him in the Rolex Grand Prix tomorrow’’. What was her strategy today? “I haven’t often ridden him fast, but I thought today was the day to try it out. His breeder, André Nepper, came to watch him, which is great. We have owned him jointly for quite a while now, and we are like a family. We have always believed in him. He is simply really something special!”
Keenan also won a special prize for her victory: a colt by Chaloubino PS OLD x Balou du Rouet called Chalou Touch HC. The “HC” stands for the breeders, Heike and Carmen Zimmermann from Nettetal. Her plans for her four-legged newcomer? “Quite honestly—I don’t know yet. We’ll have to see”. Perhaps he will follow in Chagrin d’Amour’s footsteps.
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Full results here