The three Florida based American WEG team riders determined the beating of the drum in the CDI-W Grand Prix class on Thursday 24 January 2019, the first of day of the third week of competition and the second of international competition at the Global Dressage Festival in Wellington.
Kasey Perry-Glass and the 16-year old Danish bred Goerklintgaards Dublet (by Diamond Hit x Ferro) won the Grand Prix CDI-W, presented by the U.S. P.R.E Association, with a personal best score of 77.913%, beating America's number one and the world number 2, Laura Graves and Verdades.
“I’m not surprised because I know that this horse has a lot of potential, but coming out for your first show you always want to do well and start where you left off last year,” Perry-Glass said about her win on Thursday. “I felt like that test was better than I’ve ever felt him. The rideability was there, and his mental game was there. It just showed that he’s ready for this year.”
“I just kind of had a few little lightbulb moments with our riding. Even after being on an Olympic team and a WEG team, you still have those moments,” commented Perry-Glass on her ride. “We’re just going to keep continuing to grow and get the scores up, even by 0.5%, and just keep chasing the higher scores.”
Perry-Glass said of her relationship with Goerklintgaards Dublet, “I’m very close to him. He’s my baby. I’m around him all day. His care, I look after the smallest little things with him, and sometimes my vet gets annoyed and he’s like, ‘Kasey, he’s fine.’ But you know, the earlier you catch things, the earlier you can fix it. I take his care very seriously.”
Earlier in the day Brittany Fraser (CAN) and All In, her 14-year-old KWPN gelding by Tango, earned a score of 72.761% to win the FEI Grand Prix CDI3*. After a 10-month break from competition, Katherine Bateson Chandler (USA) and Alcazar, a 14-year-old KWPN gelding by Contango and owned by Jane Forbes Clark, came in second with a score of 70.957%. Jill Irving (CAN) and Arthur, her 14-year-old KWPN gelding by Jazz, finished third with a score of 69.738%.
-- GDF press release, edited by Eurodressage
Photos © Sue Stickle
Related Link
Scores: 2019 CDI-W Wellington