Swedish Grand Prix riders Patrik Kittel and Antonia Ramel presented their new kids on the block at the national indoor competition, hosted by PSI Events at the Ankum Riding Club on 2 February 2017. Kittel presented his rising Grand Prix horse Well Done de la Roche CMF, while Antonia Ramel has made her return to the show ring aboard Brother de Jeu.
The Friday Grand Prix class at the 2017 CDN Ankum was won by Norwegian Isabel Freese (née Bache) on her 2016 Louisdor cup mount Sam's Ass (by Samarant x Pink As). The pair scored an impressive 74.033% for the victory in a field of 18 international competitors. German Kathleen Keller and her own 10-year old Oldenburg gelding San Royal (by San Remo x Grand Royal) followed in a distance in second place with 71.000%.
The Swedish combo Kittel - Ramel scored third and fourth place in Ankum. Kittel saddled Francoise and Muriel Trembley 's 9-year old Swiss warmblood Well Done de la Roche CMF (by Furstentraum x Walt Disney) and scored 71.000%. Kittel and Well Done became a partnership in February 2016 and the Swedish Olympian tips the mare as one of the best horses in his barn.
"The feeling this mare gives is simply exciting, and with such great potential in all the collectives, this lovely mare has a very special future," Kittel explained. "With inexperience and slight nerves showing in between, the score was not reflective of the work this mare produced, and I am thrilled with her focus and ability in her debut. The youngest of the start list at 9 years old, time is on our side and I truly believe this may be one of the best horses I have ever sat on."
Kittel's student Antonia Ramel finished fourth on the Dutch warmblood Brother de Jeu (by Voice x Jazz). The black gelding was part of the 2015 Excellent Dressage Sales collection and apparently sold at the time for 170,000 euro. He was briefly trained and competed by Dominique Filion and then sent to Germany to be sold again. Ramel began working with Patrik almost a year ago after she acquired Brother de Jeu in his barn. The new pair made its show debut in Ankum in November 2016 after the rider's almost four year break from the show ring. The duo did their second show to score 69.200%.
"Brother de Jeu felt very good over all," Ramel told Eurodressage. "A little bit tense now and then but it's only his second competition with me and his first Grand Prix."
Ramel has had quite a turbulent career as a dressage rider encompassing a lot of bad luck on her way dealing with frequent injuries of her horses. In 2012 she made a big purchase when she got Trakehner stallion Insterburg, but it did not become a success due to injury. Her other FEI horse Seigneur (by Juventus) struggled with injuries as well. Antonia has trained with Pether Markne and Arjen Teeuwissen before staying with Anky van Grunsven from October 2013 till February 2016. Ramel rode her last show in Sweden in June 2012 but returned to the ring at the 2016 CDIO Falsterbo where she made her show come back in the national 7-year old division on her show jumper-turned-dressage horse Curiosity (by Clinsmann x Carpaccio).
Swiss Marcela Krinke-Susmelj introduced her rising mount Smeyers Sonny Star (by Sunny Boy x Midt West Ibi Light) to Grand Prix level via the national circuit. The 13-year old Danish warmblood was acquired by the Swiss Irina Meyers in February 2015. In Ankum the pair scored 68.200% to rank fifth ahead of Hof Kasselmann's assistant trainer Nicole Wego aboard Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein's 15-year old Danish bred Whitley (by Don Schufro x Lauries Crusador xx). Krinke-Susmelj also ranked 12th on the 12-year old Danish bred Smeyers Sopran (by Soprano) with 65.733%.
Click here for the 2017 CDN Ankum GP scores.
Photos © Lyndal Oatley
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