2017 European Championship double bronze medal winner Cathrine Dufour and Atterupgaards Cassidy have kicked off the 2017-2018 Western European League World Cup season at the 2017 CDI-W Herning with a victory in the Grand Prix class on Saturday noon 21 October 2017. In their first start since Gothenburg, Dufour and Cassidy did not lose any of their summer form.
In a modest field of only 15 combinations, home favourite Cathrine Dufour and her 14-year old Danish warmblood gelding Atterupgaards Cassidy (by Caprimond x Donnerhall) scored a winning 79.840%. The judges' panel, which include Riexinger (GER), Matthiesen (DEN), Sanders-van Gansewinkel (NED), Baarup (DEN), and Truppa (ITA), were not unanimous though. Danish judge Baarup had Dufour at a whopping 82.40% while German judge Riexinger only saw a 74.60% in the ride.
"He was so good," an ecstatic Dufour told Eurodressage. "He was nice and relaxed and with me all the way. For the freestyle tomorrow I'm going for more power and will ride risky lines."
Dufour only picked up serious training on Cassidy 10 days ago, having given her horse a good break after Gothenburg.
"Cassidy has been a bit on the edge the last couple of days, and we have not been training very much since the European Championship, but today he was doing well," she explained. "It was quite cool to beat Isabell, at our homefield – we are more than ready to ride at our very best tomorrow."
She further disclosed that she has no interest in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup Finals in Paris, France, in April, but opted to show in Herning for fun and to support the sport in her home country. Cathrine has not yet decided on her 2018 show schedule but she is eyeing the CDI in Doha, Qatar as next event.
The runner-up in the Grand Prix is the 2017 European Champion Isabell Werth who brought along her second GP horse, the 16-year old Hanoverian gelding Don Johnson (by Don Frederico x Warkant). The pair scored a total of 77.440% with consistent marks from all five judges.
"I am actually pleased with our test today, although we made a small error going into the second piaffe, and the rhythm of this transition," Werth said after her ride.
Werth has confirmed that she is certainly going for the 2018 World Cup Finals, where she will be defending her title. With three Grand Prix horses to ride, she has plenty of options and will campaign Weihegold, Emilio and Don Johnson each at two World Cup qualifiers this winter show season.
Swedish Patrik Kittel and the Oatley family's 11-year old Oldenburg gelding Delaunay (by Dr Doolittle x Feinbrand) completed the top three with a 74.940% score.
Photos © Digishots
Related Links
Scores: 2017 CDI-W Herning
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2017-2018 World Cup Show Season