Isabell Werth emphasized why she is the current world number one rider with a spectacular win on Don Johnson FRH in the CDI 5* Grand Prix in Doha, Qatar on Friday 3 March 2017. Scoring 77.600% Werth bagged the trophy and 6250 euro in prize money for the class. The heat was on, though, for Werth as Danish Cathrine Dufour was right on her heels.
“I’m really happy. He was very controlled, very serious and without mistakes. Everything was really focused," said Werth after her victory. "Good pirouettes and changes and the half pass. Maybe the second piaffe could have been a bit quicker but I’m very happy. It's a fabulous show and I am really happy that we came"
Cathrine Dufour and her 14-year old Danish gelding Atterupgaards Cassidy finished a small margin behind on 76.820%. The Caprimond x Donnerhall offspring has partnered with the 25-year old from Junior level. Together they won two European Young Rider Championships in 2012 and 2013 and finished 13th individually in Rio 2016.
While Werth felt the heat in Doha, the rider is confident as she has proven to be unbeatable on this year's World Cup circuit. Speaking on her current world number one horse Weihegold Old, she said: “my horse is number one in the world ranking and she has had really great performances in the last three months. She started the World Cup season with a super Freestyle win in Lyon and again in Amsterdam. She is on a super way and at the moment I think she is a horse with maybe the best piaffe, passage. She was the one in the lead at the moment but you always feel the breeze of the other ones.”
Third place went to another Danish rider Anna Kasprzak who rode Donnperignon to score a percentage of 73.560%
The popular British rider Carl Hester brought Coral Ingham's chestnut stallion Wanadoo to compete but had to settle for sixth place. The Hanoverian stallion is a useful described as a “fun little horse” by Hester who has had several Grand Prix wins at CDI 3* level with the horse.
Speaking after his test “It was really good. Really happy with him. He is 16 years old, been there done it. He travelled really well and he went really well. I’m a bit disappointed with our marks but he’s not a big mover.
Related Link
Scores 2017 CDI Doha
