Austrian Belinda Weinbauer and Sohnlein Brilliant danced their way to victory in the Grand Prix Kur to Music at the 2017 CDI Caselle di Sommacampagna on 17 - 19 March 2017. Hosted at Sporting Club Paradiso close to Verona, Italy, the CDI drew out a mixed field of 15 Grand Prix riders from five different nationalities.
Belinda Weinbauer and Marianna Jerich's 15-year old Hanoverian bred Söhnlein Brilliant (by Shakespeare in Love x Rabino) won the Kur to Music with 76.175%, well ahead of the second placed pair, Benjamin Werndl on Der Hit (74.650%). Weinbauer was already the surprise winner of the 2016 Austrian Grand Prix Championships last summer and the duo is now continuing its winning ways into 2017.
"This kur was really great, absolutely faultfree," said Weinbauer. "Söhnlein was fully motivated, it was incredible. Especially because that indoor was far from easy; open windows upstairs, everything loud while below there were the stalls. Some horses really had problems with it, but he stays focused. It was a real pleasure."
Belinda's 76.175% was a new kur record score for her at CDI's. Her national kur record is 77.675%.
In the Grand Prix the duo finished second with 69.240% behind Austrian Ulrike Prunthaller on Duccio (70.700%).
"In the Grand Prix we had two mistakes," Belinda explained. "One in the zig zag and one in the two tempi changes. But that's sport. We're working on it so that this won't happen again. We are really getting better together not only in training. Söhnlein is a powerful, big horse but he has a super sweet character."
Marianne and Herbert Jerich were in Italy on Friday for the Grand Prix, but rushed home on the weekend to witness the birth of a foal in their barn. "They were jubilating on the phone," said Belinda.
The Austrian will next head to the 2017 CDI Stadl Paura.
Photo © private
Related Links
Scores 2017 CDI Caselle di Sommacampagne
Ahorner, Lorenz, Weinbauer Win 2016 Austrian Dressage Championships
Austrian Squads from Ponies to Grand Prix Level for 2017 Announced
