In Thursday’s Grand Prix, the competition was intense among the top three contenders, setting the stage for a nail-biting finish in the second leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Western European League in Lyon (FRA). The suspense held until the very last moment, but it was Germany’s world number one, Isabell Werth, who triumphed with DSP Quantaz tonight, delivering a stunning Freestyle performance that scored 84.70%.
Of the top three from the Grand Prix, France’s Pauline Basquin was the first to enter the arena. The audience cheered her on even before she began, but her partner, Sertorius de Rima Z IFCE (owned by Institut Français Du Cheval Et De L’Équitation), remained unfazed. Light-footed and elegant, the duo danced to 81.915%, setting a new personal record.
Directly after her, second-placed Grand Prix finisher, defending FEI Dressage World Cup™ Champion Patrik Kittel, entered with Touchdown (owned by Sommarkvarn AB). The Swede delivered a flawless performance with his thrilling James Bond-themed freestyle, especially shining in the canter section. He scored 81.975%, edging just a few hundredths of a percentage point ahead of Basquin. Werth entered the arena last and emerged victorious with a commanding lead. Riding DSP Quantaz—owned by Madeleine Winter-Schulze and Victoria Max-Theurer—Werth delivered an outstanding freestyle, showcasing precision and focus. In the midst of an extended canter, however, Quantaz spooked, and Werth expressed how pleased she was with how Quantaz managed to regain his composure and finish strongly.
“He was extremely focused today. For the first time, he waited for me with each movement. Two years ago, I’d have never had him back with me so quickly after a disruption like that, but now I did,” she said, seeing the positive side. For Werth, it was her seventh FEI Dressage World Cup™ victory in Lyon.
Rankings Shaken Up
Although the top three positions held steady, there were shifts in the Lyon rankings following the Grand Prix. Before the break, Dutch rider Hans Peter Minderhoud set an impressive benchmark aboard the black stallion Glock’s Toto Jr. (owned by Glock HPC Nl B.V.). Riding to a medley of French chansons, Minderhoud captivated both the French audience and the judges. Scoring 80.04%, he and Glock’s Toto Jr.—his Olympic partner from Paris—held the lead as the only combination breaking the 80% mark for a considerable time.
German rider Sönke Rothenberger took to the arena after Minderhoud, delivering a strong performance with his always-eager partner, Fendi (owned by Rothenberger Im Gestüt Erlenhof OHG). Their score of 78.865% was just shy of Minderhoud’s, but Rothenberger’s precise ride kept him firmly in the top ranks. Meanwhile, Dinja van Liere, riding her elegant chestnut Hartsuijker (owned by Jan Pieter Dalsem), faced a minor setback. After placing fifth in the Grand Prix, the Dutch world number three dropped to sixth in the freestyle, her score of 77.485% reflecting a costly mistake in the one-time changes in her first FEI Dressage World Cup™ leg of the season.
Belgium’s Larissa Pauluis, with Flambeau (owned by Caroline Lepage, Emmanuel Lepage, Jean Pauluis, and Marie Christine Pauluis), also slipped slightly in the ranking. The 14-year-old gelding, part of the Belgian team heading to Paris, showed signs of distraction in the freestyle, leading to a few errors and a final seventh-place finish.
Dressage Thrives in France
Werth noted the growing enthusiasm for Dressage in France, where the Olympics at home have undoubtedly played a role.
“Dressage is alive here this year; it’s wonderful to see this enthusiasm growing. Every year I come to Lyon, I see that the number of visitors has grown. Now it was even a full house with the ambiance of a football stadium,” she remarked.
Runner-up Patrik Kittel (SWE) also received enthusiastic support from the French audience. He expressed his satisfaction with the competition in Lyon: “To be honest, I was very happy with my horse. We have been working on the self-carriage since Paris, and I think he improved a lot.” Following his start in the FEI Dressage World Cup™ leg in Herning two weeks ago and today’s ride in Lyon, Kittel, as defending champion, is now assured a place at the Final in Basel next year.
Basquin Brings the Audience to Its Feet
Home favourite Pauline Basquin (FRA), riding in the uniform of the French Cadre Noir, received the warmest support from the audience and a standing ovation. Just like last year in Lyon, she finished third. “I’m very happy today. Since Paris, we haven’t competed, and to score two personal bests here after a three-month break is fantastic. I’m delighted with our third place, even though we were so very close to second,” she said.
The action continues in Stuttgart in two weeks’ time, where the next round of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Western European League 2024/25 takes place on 15-16 November.
FULL RESULTS here.
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