MSJ Freestyle and Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour showed top form in Hagen this weekend winning both Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special - photo: H2R
Premier of outdoor season for the Danish top riders
Three times with Danish national anthem, Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and 17 yr old Mount St. John Freestyle for both CDI4 Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special, while Daniel Bachmann Andersen and 12 yr old Flash Gordon came 2nd i CDI4 Grand Prix won the CDI4 Grand Prix freestyle.
Cathrine is a World Class rider
Cathrine and Free were clear favourites, and they did not disappoint. Game plan at point with a “no pressure” Grand Prix, and Sunday with “go for more” Grand Prix Special performance rewarded with new Personal Best. The way Cathrine is able to support her horse without distrubing, and adjust her ride without making any visual corrections, is just second to none. The softness combined with sharpness brings the “dancing horse” picture very much alive. In addition to the top performances 17 yr old Freestyle looks top fit and super motivated.
Presumably Cathrine and Free will appear for yet another international event before Aachen later this summer.
Daniel Bachmann Andersen is ready for the team with Flash Gordon
Flash Gordon and Daniel Bachmann Andersen with both 2nd place in CDI4 Grand Prix and winner of Grand Prix freestyle - photo: H2R
Ones again Daniel Bachmann is ready with a “new” horse for the Danish team.
The 12 year old gelding Flash Gordon has for a bit more than one year been at the stables of Daniel. Hagen was just their 3rd international event together, as they made their international debut back in December last year at Vilhelmsborg. In March in Herning they showed clearly progress and left their clear “card” as a contender for the team. This week in Hagen they just showed why the Danish selectors can count on them for this years big goal WEG Aachen in August.
Daniel showed Flash Gordon in great shape. The big gelding has become much more athletic and supple, which is reflected in a nice round uphill steady frame and good contact. Technical with very good qualities and still with room for improvement. Look like a great partnership and very harmonious overall picture.
Favour Gersdorf and Nadja still improving
At the Europeans in Crozet Favour and Nadja made their team debut, and from last year till now their have improved clearly. Better suppleness for the lateral work, sharper piaffe tours and this weekend with even better trot extensions. For the Grand Prix an error occured for the one times, while they showed an error free performance in the Special. They finished 4th in Grand Prix with 72,261% and 5th in the Special with 72,128%.
They also look like a solid card for Aachen later this year.
Quel Filou and Anna Zibrandtsen showed a well balanced Grand Prix tour with good timing for piaffe tours, as Anna also told they were trying to go a bit back, where they were two years ago in training. Not asking to much but being satisfied with the quality Quel Filou offers. This plan seems to be successful, and for the Grand Prix an error just came in at the end of the two times, rest of the test was in good balance, power and shining Quel Filou. For the Special a small canter start for trot half pass left, but Anna has it quickly under control and finish the half pass in nice balance, unfortunately for two error for the one times at the diagonal. They finished both 6th in the Grand Prix and the Special with 72,52% and 71,276% and showed with their Hagen performances that they are ready for this season.
Inspiration PF and Alexander Helgstrand gaining valuable experience. For the Grand Prix error for change after extended canter and error for one times. Missing bit more overall control and balance for the canter tour. They finish as no 9 with 69,739%. Strong freestyle without technical issues finishing no 6 with 74,965%.
Atterupgaards Cooper and Sara Hyrm were also ready for the CDI4 Special tour. In the Grand Prix they showed a lot of nice qualities, but unfortunately with two small issues hind for the canter tour. Piaffe has clearly improved and becomes more regular from behind. For the Special small issues hind for both one times creeping in.
Keep up the good work both Sara and Alexander. It is important to give both young riders the oppertunity to compete at the highest senior level and gain experience - they are part of the future for Danish dressage.
Let´s see what´s next for the other Danish combinations, such as Heiline´s Danciera with Carina Cassøe Krüth which we haven´t seen since strong come back at World Cup Gothenburg in February.