The Barcelona Dressage Tour has “kicked off” with the victory of the Danish rider Anders Dahl in the first test of the Small Tour with his horse “Selten HW” (Sandro Hit x Sps High Prince x Hohenstein), a wonderful black hannoverian with Trahkener origins. It was a beautiful test and the score of 76'526% put them in a class of their own in the St. George ALBANY TRUSTEE prize.
Last night we saw quality in the Prix Saint George and a good opening to the new Dressage Tour in Can Alzina, Barcelona, sponsored by Banc Sabadell, Mango and Audi Superwagen.
The test was the kick off for this great competition with 142 participants in the first week in the CDI3* which will be followed by a CDI 4* from the 25th to the 30th of March. The Dressage Tour started with 37 competitors and without doubt Anders Dahl did a wonderful performance. Right from the beginning of the test we could see “Selten” in a magnificent uphill attitude showing great quality in the trot work. The walk pirouettes and the collected walk were very good. In the canter perhaps the weakest points were the half pirouettes, but on the other hand the flying changes and the extended canter again showed the potential this horse has. The jury saw the Danish couple as the unanimous winner.
Anders was delighted with his victory “I only got him a year and a half ago and he has improved so much and then winning with this high score is of course a real joy. We bought “Selten” at an auction and he was quite “green” when I got him, but now Fiona and I believe in him. He has competed very little so far and now I want to get him used to the show atmosphere, arenas and people. I am very happy – he was really good yesterday! I am not at all in a rush with him, he is my goal for Rio,” Anders told us with a twinkling eye.
In second place with a 72.315%, we find Henriette Andersen representing Great Britain, competing in Spain, she rode “Flavio” (Florencio x Gazelle x Glueckspilz), a nine year old Baden-Würtenberg gelding. In her performance she took care of even the smallest details, and without major errors, “Flavio” showed his magnificent movements and great balance.
Henriette also brought back “Louis D´Or”, her 14 year old veteran mount, owned by Paula Potter, who we will see in the Grand Prix.
Third placed was the Dutch rider Remy Bastings with “Zecchino” (Krack Cx Fabiola x Vindicator) obtaining a well-deserved 71.026%. He made a very professional presentation, with a very elegant and uphill trot work despite having a few difficult moments in the extended movements.
The “Clasica 1”, a national test, sponsored by Rob & Sue Fearis, also took place yesterday and was open to foreign riders. Dutch rider Joyce Lenaerts with “Beuenvalleis Authentic” claimed victory with a 71.000%, second placed we found the Portuguese rider Maria Caetano and her PSL (Pura Sangre Lusitano), she scored a 68.341% with the lovely grey owned by Finca Tineo, and in third place Roland Tong from Ireland was riding “Ambience IV” (Trento x Radonjaster x Metall) the pair breathed up Maria’s and “Coroado´s” neck with a 68.049%.
Many of the foreign riders that have come from a long way are very happy with the top quality of the venue.
Yesterday we talked with the first foreign and national riders, sunshine and perfect conditions for competing “what else could we ask for?” said Diana Al´Shaer who came with her three horses a long way from Germany, where the Russian rider is actually based.
Many of the “top” riders are used to the highest standard of facilities and events where they compete, and they have assured us that BDT has nothing to envy to other top venues in Europe. The BCN Dressage Tour has only begun, today we will see the first part of the AUDI SUPERWAGEN Grand Prix of this CDI3*. The test is the highlight of the afternoon, starting at 17.00 o´clock. The competition started at 9.00 am with the 5 year old tests and finishes today at 20:30.
Video of Selten with Anders Dahl in the Prix St. Georges.