For the second time early in the 2015 season, Lars Petersen (DEN) and Mariett, a 1998 Danish Warmblood mare, rose to the top of the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) “Friday Night Stars” FEI Grand Prix Freestyle class presented this week by US P.R.E. Association. The duo scored a 75.325% to take the class, with Shelly Francis (USA) placing second on a 74.500% aboard Doktor, and fellow Danish rider Mikala Gundersen (DEN) and My Lady coming in third with a 73.850%. More than 1,400 people filled the stands, a record high this early in the season.
Petersen and Mariett are coming fresh off of a win in the FEI Grand Prix class on Thursday, giving them two major wins at Week 3 of AGDF competition. “I was very happy with her. She is feeling great and scored very well today,” stated Petersen. “I thought her changes were very good and her piaffes as well. For me, it is not so much about the movements, but the rideability and the basics. She is really starting to get better there.”
My Lady also performed a lovely test, and Gundersen only hopes to see her scores improve as they aim for FEI World Cup qualifications. “She was very tense in the warm-up and was scared of everything. She was not very focused, but as soon as her music comes on she knows exactly what to do,” smiled Gundersen. “She has the music memorized, and I think it is very cool that she is so in-tune with what is going on.”
Final Results: FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI W, presented by US P.R.E. Association
1. Lars Petersen (DEN), Mariett, 1998 Danish Warmblood mare: 76.125%, 75.00%, 75.750%, 75.500%, 74.250%, 75.325%
2. Shelly Francis (USA), Doktor, 2003 Oldenburg gelding: 73.375%, 76.125%, 74.375%, 74.000%, 74.625%, 74.500%
3. Mikala Gundersen (DEN), My Lady, 2000 Danish Warmblood mare: 73.875%, 73.750%, 75.125%, 76.000%, 70.500%, 73.850%
4. Karen Pavicic (CAN), Don Daiquiri, 2002 Oldenburg gelding: 74.375%, 71.000%, 73.375%, 73.750%, 70.875%, 72.675%
5. Arlene Page (USA), Alina, 1998 Danish Warmblood mare: 70.750%, 72,875%, 73.375%, 73.125%, 71.750%, 72.375%
6. Jaqueline Brooks (CAN), DeNiro, 1999 Swedish Warmblood gelding: 73.875%, 71.875% 71.625%, 72.500%, 71.750%, 72.325%
7. Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven (SWE), Benetton Dream, 2004 Hanoverian stallion: 69.875%, 70.875%, 69.250%, 72.250%, 68.750%, 70.200%
8. Kelly Lane (AUS), Udon P, 2001 Dutch Warmblood gelding: 68.875%, 71.000%, 71.875%, 66.875%, 69.000%, 69.525%