Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale Win Grand Prix in Basel

Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale entered the Les Trois Rois FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final as one of the favourites, and they more than lived up to that status. A score of 77.152% sealed the victory in the Grand Prix, which serves as the qualifier for tomorrow’s Freestyle. Glamourdale once again impressed with his powerful canter work. Isabell Werth (GER), undoubtedly the most experienced athlete in the field, claimed second place with DSP Quantaz, closely followed by Isabel Freese (NOR) and Total Hope OLD in third.

Several top combinations had to go early in the impressive St. Jakobshalle arena in Basel, including Isabel Freese and Total Hope OLD. The striking black stallion has two former FEI Dressage World Cup™ winners as parents: Totilas as sire and Weihegold OLD as dam. Total Hope OLD (owned by Lone Boegh Hendriksen, Oivind Bache and Paul Schockemöhle) entered the arena with a tense halt, but grew into the test as it progressed. The score of 74.413% held firm for a long time and ultimately secured third place — the first ever FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final podium finish for a Norwegian combination.

“Total Hope is a real macho, but he learns quickly and is fantastic to ride. Today we lost some valuable marks at the beginning, but I’m very proud of the rest of our test,” said Freese.

Scroll to continue with content

Only Isabell Werth with DSP Quantaz and Charlotte Fry with Glamourdale managed to surpass that score later in the field.

Top combinations early in the running

The very first combination of the day also made a strong impression: Larissa Pauluis (BEL) and Flambeau (owned by Caroline and Emmanuel Lepage and Jean and Marie-Christine Pauluis) posted a nearly error-free test for 72.935%, which was eventually good enough for seventh place. “It hasn’t always been easy with Flambeau, but we kept believing in our dream, and here we are,” she smiled after her test.

One of the three American combinations also earned a top-10 placing before the break: Adrienne Lyle (USA) with Helix (owned by Zen Elite Equestrian Center). The long-legged chestnut grew in confidence throughout the test, scoring 72.565% and finishing ninth. Pauline Basquin (FRA) and Sertorius de Rima Z IFCE (owned by Institut Français du Cheval et de l’Équitation) followed just behind with 72.348%.

Mares steal the show

After the break, the energy in the arena quickly ramped up with many top combinations aiming for a place in the top three. Several mares stole the show, including Forever Young HRH (owned by the athlete and Gestüt Peterhof), ridden by reigning champion Patrik Kittel (SWE). He chose the elegant mare instead of last year’s winner, Touchdown, as his partner for the Final. With 73.130%, he came close, but a costly mistake in the two-tempis prevented a higher score. Kittel finished in sixth place. Directly after him, Bianca Nowag-Aulenbrock (GER) delivered an impressive Grand Prix with the chestnut mare Florine OLD (owned by Elisabeth von Wulffen), scoring 72.609% and taking eighth place.

Another mare who captured the hearts of the audience was Maxima Bella, ridden by Sandra Sysojeva (POL). The imposing black mare, who also competed in the Freestyle Final at the Paris Olympic Games, impressed with her piaffe and passage tour, earning a score of 74.283% and fourth place.

This was a tie for fourth place with Corentin Pottier (FRA), who rode the test of his life aboard the gelding Gotilas du Feuillard (owned by Maryse and Herve Pottier and Camille Judet Cheret). His 74.283% marked a new personal best, and as the final athlete of the day, his exceptionally correct and harmonious performance also won over the crowd.

Werth reaches her goal

Isabell Werth is riding her 26th FEI Dressage World Cup Final in Basel, and her third with DSP Quantaz (owned by Madeleine Winter-Schülze and Victoria Max-Theurer). She placed third in the Finals in Omaha (USA) in 2023 and fourth in Riyadh (KSA) in 2024. Earlier this year, she won both the Grand Prix and Freestyle in the World Cup qualifier in Basel. Her goal was to climb one place higher in the Final ranking this year, and with 74.848% in today’s Grand Prix, she managed just that, finishing second.

“I was very pleased with Quantaz,” she said with satisfaction. “The first two days here weren’t easy for him. He was very spooky and not focused. Today, as soon as I got on, he was more relaxed, and he stayed focused throughout the test.”

Fry impresses — but knows there’s more in store

As the twelfth to go, Charlotte Fry laid down a score with Glamourdale (owned by the athlete and Van Olst Horses) that no one could top: 77.152%. It wasn’t their highest score ever, but it was enough to take the win. The first piaffe, where the black stallion briefly hesitated, cost them some marks.

“Today he was definitely more impressed in here than he was in other arenas this World Cup season. I really had to give him quite some confidence today, but he trusted me. We had some amazing moments today, I’m very happy with the flying changes and with a lot of the trot work.”

Fry is looking forward to tomorrow evening’s Freestyle: “I want to present everyone a beautiful freestyle and give Glamourdale every possibility to be as good as he can be. He is such a personality and a real showman.”