Lars Petersen (DEN) and Mariett were victorious again this season at the 2015 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF), this time in the first class of the highly anticipated FEI Grand Prix CDI 5* presented by Diamante Farms. Petersen and Mariett topped the large Grand Prix class with a score of 74.160%, followed by Danish teammate Mikala Gundersen (DEN) aboard My Lady finishing with a 72.960% and Kathleen Raine (USA) and Breanna coming in third on a 72.420%. AGDF 5 competition will continue tomorrow, February 6, with the FEI Intermediaire 1 CDI 1* presented by Mission Control and FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI 3* presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty during the day, and the highlight class of the week, the “Friday Night Stars” FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI 5* presented by Diamante Farms, beginning at 7pm with a special salute to Olympians from Diamante Farms prior to the class.
Petersen and Mariett are no strangers to the winner's circle this season, as this is the duo's fourth win in Large Tour classes at AGDF in 2015. In true form, the pair performed another nearly flawless test to bring home some of the highest marks they have received in a Grand Prix yet this season. “We've got it all wrong, she's getting younger and younger and I'm just getting older and older, that's how I think it really is,” joked Petersen when asked about the mare's 17 years of age. “The thing now, at this stage, is what you do at home before you go to the show. I don't practice that much. I just focus on keeping her loose, fit, and in good condition.”
Gundersen, who has also had a very successful beginning to the 2015 season on My Lady, had another great test under the lights with the mare as their scores continue to improve. “She loves this atmosphere, and I know she will be even better tomorrow,” she said. “I'm really happy with where I am. Looking at the starting list for this class, there are some very big names and I would have been happy to end up in the top five. Finishing where I did is really just a dream.”
Just back from a five-month trip in Europe, Kathleen Raine and Breanna had a strong showing for the first competition back on U.S. soil since June 2014. “I was thrilled with my ride tonight. We had a few little mistakes, but she was super consistent and she handled the atmosphere great,” she stated. “I'm really happy with how she's doing. I think the experience in Europe really helped her. She's much more mature.”
Tonight was Raine's first experience competing at AGDF and she was impressed with not only the facility, but also the quality of footing, as both Petersen and Gundersen agreed. “I'm not only so impressed by this facility, but the way the footing held up today throughout all of the rain we got early in the day was truly amazing. I was just so impressed with how well it was taken care of today with the weather,” Raine said.
Steffen Peters (USA) aboard Rosamunde, the eight-year-old Rhinelander mare, won the FEI Grand Prix CDI 3* presented by Wellington Equestrian Realty, in truly incredible form scoring a 71.300%. Arlene Page (USA) and Woodstock placed second with a 70.420%, followed by Charlotte Jorst (USA) and Kastels Nintendo in third receiving a 70.360%.
Peters was quick to give the young mare praise, as she is still very green at the Grand Prix level. “She amazed me the first day I sat on her. She's just so focused. We had a few little rookie mistakes today, but there are a lot of wonderful things and the best thing is that she does it with so much lightness. There's a lot of expression, and she feels so beautiful in the contact,” he said. The mare, who has only done one Grand Prix prior to competing today, has a bright future ahead of her with Peters in the irons.
Rosamunde, who contested Small Tour classes in Europe last year, stepped up to the plate when Peters began asking for Grand Prix movements. “We started playing with the movements at summer training camp, and I wouldn't compete her in the Grand Prix if I felt like I was pushing the movements. But once we started to try, it worked out great,” he commented. “The test two weeks ago was better, but it is still not a test in any way, shape, or form, I could be negative about. It's really just a great to have an eight-year-old Grand Prix horse.”
Final Results FEI Grand Prix CDI5* presented by Diamante Farms
Place, Rider, Nationality, Horse, Horse Information: Judge E%, Judge H%, Judge C%, Judge M%, Judge B%, Total%
1. Lars Petersen (DEN), Mariett, 1998 Danish Warmblood mare, Come Back II x Zendi x Sidney: 73.400%, 75.300%, 72.900%, 74.300%, 74.900%, 74.160%
2. Mikala Gundersen (DEN), My Lady, 2000 Danish Warmblood mare, Michellino x Marion x Ritterstern: 72.000%, 74.100%, 74.500%, 72.100%, 72.100%, 72.960%
3. Kathleen Raine (USA), Breanna, 2000 Hanoverian mare, Bretano ii x World Queen x Weltmeyer: 71.300%, 75.200%, 72.100%, 71.200%, 72.300%, 72.420%
4. Shelly Francis (USA), Doktor, 2003 Oldenburg gelding, Diamond Hit x Gurena x Renoir I: 72.400%, 71.8000%, 73.100%, 73.100%, 68.200%, 71.720%
5. Jose Daniel Martin Dockx (ESP), Grandioso, 1999 P.R.E. stallion, Adelante x Grandiosa x Sevillano IX: 69.500%, 71.700%, 72.100%, 73.000%, 71.000%, 71.460%
6. Belinda Trussell (CAN), Anton, 2000 Sachsen gelding, Aneaus x Shirley x Melit: 70.600%, 71.100%, 73.300%, 70.500%, 70.700%, 71.240%
7. Steffen Peters (USA), Legolas 92, 2002 Westphalian gelding, Laomedon x Furstin x Florestan II: 67.300%, 71.100%, 70.700%, 73.500%, 73.500%, 71.220%
8. Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven (SWE), Divertimento, 2002 Westphalian gelding, Di Versave x Fatima x Farragamo: 71.400%, 69.700%, 71.200%, 70.200%, 71.400%, 70.780%