Germany’s Isabell Werth guided Viva Gold OLD to victory on his FEI Dressage World Cup™ debut in Lyon (FRA), as the World No.3 finished ahead of World No.2 Justin Verboomen (BEL).
After Verboomen and Zonik Plus won Thursday’s Grand Prix, Werth and Viva Gold OLD scored 87.890% in the Freestyle to finish more than two percentage points ahead. Belgium claimed three of the top four places, with Verboomen second, Larissa Pauluis and Flambeau third, and Wim Verwimp and Jedai de Massa fourth.
Werth’s 10-year-old stallion looked in superb form throughout his Lyon debut, and as the final notes of his Neil Diamond Freestyle played, the audience clapped along and sang out loud to ‘Sweet Caroline’. It was a fitting finish to the chestnut’s first-ever FEI Dressage World Cup™ competition.
“Viva Gold was fantastic today, I’m so proud of him,” Werth said. “Viva Gold has grown and developed enormously over the past months and weeks. He can really become an absolute top horse.”
The victory also had a special connection to Lyon. Exactly five years after winning the FEI Dressage World Cup™ competition there with Weihegold OLD, Werth returned to the top with her former champion mare’s grandson, Viva Gold OLD.
Verboomen and Zonik Plus had shown great unity in Thursday’s Grand Prix. In the Freestyle, however, the gorgeous black stallion was a little less focused on his Athlete. Their score of 85.810% was a strong result, but it left the door open for Werth to take the lead.
“On Thursday in the Grand Prix, the feeling was very good, but today Zonik Plus was a little more tense in the Freestyle,” said Verboomen. “Yesterday we had a very good connection; today it was more difficult to find that connection. Of course, I am still very happy with second place behind Isabell.”
Belgium’s strong showing continued with Pauluis and Flambeau, who finished third. The bay gelding produced an expressive, powerful performance, particularly in the trot tour. After setting a new personal best in the Grand Prix, Pauluis was pleased to score 80.530% in the Freestyle.
“Flambeau is still getting better and better at the age of 16,” Pauluis said. “He was not always an easy horse when he was younger, but we keep building a better partnership every time. He was completely there for me today.”
The final Athlete into the arena was another Belgian, Verwimp, riding Jedai de Massa. The pair delivered a faultless Freestyle, with the horse particularly impressive in his piaffe and passage. Their score of 80.455% was a substantial new personal best and secured fourth place.
Marieke van der Putten (NED) and Kuvasz RS2 completed the top five with 78.990%. Having also finished second in Herning (DEN) with Zantana RS2 OLD N.O.P., Van der Putten now stands third in the Western European League standings. Alexandre Ayache (FRA), who collected points in Slovenia and the Czech Republic, leads the standings and added five more points in Lyon. Patrik Kittel (SWE) is currently second.
The next FEI Dressage World Cup™ leg takes place in Stuttgart (GER) on 13 and 14 November.