THE Indoor Derby at the German Masters in Stuttgart has been a happy hunting ground for Galwayman Cathal Daniels. He won the class in 2019, was runner-up in 2024 and was unbeatable once more to take the 2025 title on Wednesday night.

Riding the 12-year-old mare Shannondale Mari at the 39th Masters, Daniels went clear in phase two of the course in a time of 30.65 seconds to claim the €5,000 prize. “I’ve been coming to Stuttgart for many years now. There’s always a great atmosphere here,” said the delighted winner. “For Shannondale Mari, it was the first indoor derby, but riding my former derby horse Rioghan Rua, Jennifer Kuehnle came third today.”

Kuehnle, Daniels’ partner, was last year’s winner at the event riding Sammy Davis Junior, a 15-year-old gelding by Imperial Hights, owned by Mags Kinsella and Daniels and bred by Amanda Vogan.

On this occasion, she was pipped to second place just before the end of the competition by German Arne Bergendahl riding Cliemann, a nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding. He finished in 31.7 seconds to Kuehnle’s 32.05.

Watched on by a 5,500 crowd, Germany’s two-time Olympic team gold medalist Ingrid Klimke finished fourth in 32.2 seconds, one place to the good of the local hero Michael Jung. The three-time Olympic champion clocked 32.24 seconds to place fifth.

An Irish Sport Horse mare, Shannondale Mari (Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan) is owned by Sofia Sjoborg and Sarah Hughes and was bred by Martin Walsh. Rioghan Rua (ISH by Jack of Diamonds) is owned by her breeders Mags and Frank Kinsella.

Featuring eventing, driving, dressage and show jumping, the German Masters will run until Sunday with the 1.60m five-star Grand Prix another high point of the week.