London, December 19, 2018 – The result could not have been closer with two riders finishing on an equal score in tonight’s FEI Dressage World Cup™ Grand Prix Freestyle supported by Horse & Hound. The win however was awarded to Frederic Wandres and Duke of Britain (80.030%) the first German combination to win the World Cup leg in London. The pair headed the class by virtue of higher artistic marks meaning British favourite Charlotte Dujardin and Hawtins Delicato had to settle for second place.
Dujardin and ‘Del’ were the first to set the competition alight with their expressive kur set to the familiar compilation from ‘How to train your Dragon’ a freestyle which was first performed by Dujardin on Valegro in 2011. Frederic and Duke, third in last night’s Grand Prix, were however, always going to be a threat and the pair did not disappoint performing a fluent and mistake free test with a high degree of difficulty. The attractive chestnut, like Delicato is also British bred and did not miss a beat, willingly performing canter pirouettes to tempi changes and passage to extended trot and back.
“For me to reach the magical 80% is a dream come true especially in the company of these riders,” said Wandres, who attributes much of his success to the solid temperament of Duke who is by the well-known stallion Dimaggio and was bred near Windsor by Tony and Sarah Pidgley .
“I trust Duke totally – I could ride him in any arena anywhere and as long as I don’t make a mistake, he won’t make a mistake”; said Wandres who is now fourth in the FEI World Cup™ ranking.
Dujardin was equally delighted with her ride on ‘Del’.
“Yesterday he was a bit sticky in the arena so today I was better prepared,” said Dujardin who was taking Del though only his second ever freestyle.
“He is still relatively inexperienced and nothing can prepare you or your horse for the atmosphere of this arena – which is just the best and there is no show like it,” said Dujardin.
“All I really wanted to do was come away with a positive experience so I couldn’t be any more pleased.”
Dutch Olympian Hans Peter Minderhoud was not quite as happy having to settle for third place with the young breeding stallion Glocks Dream Boy (77.990%) who sadly, like many others, made some technical mistakes, which ultimately proved too expensive in the loss of marks.
British rider Hayley Watson-Greaves and her longstanding partner Rubins Nite delighted the home crowd with a fluent and assured freestyle that put them in fourth place.
The FEI Dressage World Cup™ series of qualifiers continues through to next April when the final takes place in Gothenburg, Sweden (3-7 April).
The London International Horse Show Press Release