Totilas Rises to the Top in German Point Fest at 2014 CDI Perl

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2014 CDI Perl

Matthias Rath and Totilas took the spoils in the Grand Prix for Special at the 2014 CDI Perl at Gestut Peterhof in Perl-Borg on Friday 27 June 2014. The Grand Prix classes in Perl count as first official German WEG Selection trial and the judging panel willingly committed to a major point fest to boost German dressage in the lead up to the World Equestrian Games. The top two rides scored above 80% and the third one was near to it, all three profiting from generous marks.

The judges' panel in Perl consisted of Evi Eisenhardt, Irina Maknami, Maribel Alonso, Elizabeth McMullen, and Katrina Wust. They placed Matthias Rath and the 14-year old Dutch warmblood stallion Totilas (by Gribaldi x Glendale) at the top of the leader board with a personal best score of 85.180%. Their individual marks were quite in unison with only 1.6% deviation amongst them in the final result.

After their start in Kapellen a month ago and showing improved form in Wiesbaden two weeks ago, Rath and Totilas had a mandatory lay-over at Perl on their way to Aachen, the final German WEG team trial, before the WEG in Caen. At each show they put bigger marks on the board and their Perl performance had an increase of 2,38%. Despite many powerful moments, the Perl Grand Prix test lacked the last bit of finesse.

Rath started off with a good first trot extension, even though there was slightly more lift in the left front leg. The half passes were lovely but the horse tilted the head in the turn of direction at B. The second trot extension had good overtrack, but again the horse lifted the left frontleg higher than the right one, especially at the start of the diagonal. The irregularity is less pronounced than in Kapellen. The passage was energetic, regular and lightfooted. In the first piaffe Totilas slightly crept forward. The stallion also pushed the poll a bit high in that first piaffe-passage tour. The extended walk had a very nice rhythm, good relaxation and strong overstep. The second passage was delightful, but again in the second piaffe the horse was traveling forward instead of piaffing on the spot. The horse swung the hindquarters much in the two tempi changes but the changes themselves were scopy. There was much ground cover in the zig zag but Totilas was breathing very heavily in them making the movement appear laboured. The one tempi changes were fault-free even though two changes were short behind. The first pirouette could have been slightly more balanced. The right one had big, scopy strides but appeared too hasty. The final trot extension had much leg flash in front, still the horse achieved overstep. The passage on the final centerline got a bit jerky despite the major lift and spring. The piaffe was again forward, the end halt stretched, not square and behind the vertical.

Isabell Werth and Bella Rose "Totilas gave me a super feeling," Rath commented after his test. "And that result makes me very happy. Rath is trained by the controversial Dutch coach Sjef Janssen and has been preparing for the 2014 show season in Erp, The Netherlands. "Pretty mcuh every week I go to Holland for three days of training. I have a lot of fun in training and also Sjef and I really get along very well on a personal level."

Isabell Werth won the Grand Prix for Kur on Don Johnson with 77.32%, but the crowds were eagerly awaiting her appearance on her new star horse, Bella Rose (by Belissimo M x Cacir AA) with whom she seems to be trying for WEG. The chestnut mare has been hyped tremendously in Germany and has not yet competed abroad. The 10-year old Bella Rose is hailed as Germany's shooting star to secure the foundation and strength of future team.

Werth's chestnut mare is brimming with potential and is defintely the one to watch out for in the future as this is a "power grace" horses like Damon Hill, but in Perl there were plenty of "youthful" weaknesses in the test to raise one's eyebrows for today's 80.100% and second place the judges allocated her. None of three trot extensions had adequate overtrack, even though the mare does lengthen the frame with the nose going forward and the frontleg impressively reaching out. The half passes were lovely and the elegant, lightfooted and rhythmical passage is definitely the mare's forté. The piaffe, however, has no sit whatsoever even though Bella Rose can keep a good steady rhythm. Without taking the weight truly on the hindquarters in the piaffe, it's easier for horses to execute smooth transitions and Bella Rose did just that. The extended walk had good relaxation, the collected walk was slightly hesitant in the rhythm. The second piaffe-passage was better regulated. In canter the horse revealed that she has not yet come to full strength and self carriage. She started bopping her head unable to carry herself steadily at the vertical. The two tempi changes were ok, the extended canter was excellent. The zig zag decent but the balance needs to improve. The mare slightly lost steam at the beginning of the right pirouette. Also on the final centerline, Bella Rose could not stayed closed in the frame in the last bit of passage and rolled out into the end halt. There certainly is a lot of promise for this horse, but the 80.10% seemed a bit overenthusiastic.

Kristina Sprehe on Desperados "I've never had a horse that in body and mind is so sensitive as Bella Rose," Werth explained. "The walk today, some moments of tension, these are things that are all because of her high level of commitment. We gave her a long time to mature and it has been worth it. The rest will be routine and time."

The same can be said about Kristina Sprehe and Desperados' 79.700% inflated score. While Sprehe made the best out of the situation as she had to ride in a sudden downpour of rain, her black stallion (by De Niro x Wolkenstein II) was unfortunately not on the job today and has produced far better performances earlier this season. The stallion appeared distracted and not sharp to the aids. Desperados was the only horse in the top three to truly produce correct trot extensions with lengthening of the stride AND frame, even though he got distracted near X on the first two diagonals. The rein back was crooked, but the half passes were ground covering. The hindlegs trailed in the first passage and the first piaffe was slightly hesitant. Also in the extended walk, the rhythm could have been purer. It didn't seem to be Desperados' day as he was not as strong behind in the passage, and the piaffes, which are usually strong, rhythmical and on the spot, were less convincing. The two tempi changes were correct but the horse could cover more ground. The extended canter was ridden conservatively, the one tempi changes were correct. Both pirouettes were nice but slightly big. Desperados showed a clean, expressive third extended trot, but lost the regularity in passage on the final centerline. The piaffe at X was too forward. Pity, but Sprehe will definitely be up for a rematch in the Special.

Werth, Rath and Sprehe at the press conference after the Grand Prix "The first part of the test was practically one on the go," Sprehe laughed. "But overall I have obtained more control thanks to the training with Monica Theodorescy. Also here in the warm up he was very relaxed."

Maybe the scores of the top three riders were not generous nor inflated at all. However, then one has to argue that all other riders, who have to struggle to get away from that perpetual 6-score-stigma (despite executing movements well and showing promise and talent), are continuously underscored. It's just how one wants to see the matter and approach this major issue in the judging system.

German team trainer Monica Theodorescu was on the scene in Perl to assess the German team candidates."I don't care in which order the three are placed," Theodorescu commented. "What is important to me is that three Germans are in front. After the Special I will announce who will ride on the team for the CDIO Aachen Nations' Cup."

Usually the Aachen CDIO team will be the team selected for the year's major championship, this year the World Championship in Caen, France, in August.