Isabell Werth saddled her second best scoring horse Emilio to ride in the inaugural Saab Top 10 Dressage competition and she took a strong start. The pair won the Grand Prix at the 2017 CDI Stockholm in Sweden on Saturday 2 December 2017 and are now the favourites for the freestyle and the massive purse: 45,000 euro for the winner and a Volkswagen Tiguan.
The best riders in the world are invited to Saab Top 10 Dressage: The top 8 riders as of FEI World Ranking 30th of September, of which 1 has to be best ranked Swedish regardless of his/her place, and two Wild Cards. Mastermind behind the concept is Swedish rider Patrik Kittel.
The strong starting field for the Grand Prixincluded Isabell Werth and Helen Langehanenberg (GER), Cathrine Dufour and Anna Zibrandtsen (DEN), Inessa Merkulova (RUS), Severo Jurado Lopez (ESP) and not less than four Swedish riders on home soil – Rose Mathisen, Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén, Patrik Kittel and Therese Nilshagen.
Winner of the Grand Prix was Isabell Werth and her 11-year-old gelding Emilio (by Ehrenpreis x Cacir AA) with 79,700%. Catherine Dufour and Atterupgaards Cassidy were close on second place and 79,300%. Isabell had some small mistakes in both the transition between the collected walk and passage, and also in the flying change.
"It’s always good to come to Sweden, the Swedes have an emotion for the equestrian sport, and the atmosphere in the arena is superb", said Werth. "Over all the conditions are perfect here at Sweden International Horse Show, from the stable to the amazing arena with the huge screen. The warm up was a little bit too long for Emilio and me; I couldn’t really keep up his energy. But I am really happy with him as he is not so experienced. This will be a great fight tomorrow between Catherine, and me."
Werth added that, "Emilio is a special horse, as a youngster no one had a good solution for him. He has improved a lot in the body the last 10-15 months, I can be really happy with him. Today he was on, but focused, he has no problems with the atmosphere and is not spooky at all, and that’s good."
Isabell Werth praised Saab for making the Top 10 final possible. "We were dreaming about this for a long time, and I’m really happy and thankful to Saab that we get the support to make this show possible, said Werth. "It is the duty of all of us to come here and give something back and to show this great sport."
Second placed Catherine Dufour was happy being back at Sweden International Horse Show.
"This show is amazing! The stable is so silent and the arena is fantastic. It doesn’t matter that this is not my home crowd; the audience is with us anyway," said Dufour. "Cassidy is not an easy horse indoor. We had a little mistake in the zig-zag, one change that was not clear, and that was the chance I gave to Isabell to win today."
Dufour immediately said yes to competing in the Saab Top 10 Dressage. "It's fantastic with this competition – it’s really racing the standards for all other organizers. When I got the question from Patrik (Kittel) to participate, I was just all in! This is a top show and I wouldn’t want to miss it."
Third place on home soil went to Therese Nilshagen and lovely 10-year-old stallion Dante Weltino OLD. Therese and Dante had an amazing start with 9-10 on the extended trot and ended up at 77,980%, a personal best for the two.
"It was a nice feeling to ride for the home crowd here in Stockholm, my first time! This was the first big indoor competition for Dante, and I was not sure how he was going to handle the atmosphere. Tomorrow I will try my best, be focused and do as good as possible."
Photos © Ronald Thunholm
Related Links
Scores 2017 CDI Stockholm
Entry Field Complete for Saab Top 10 Dressage at 2017 CDI Stockholm
Saab Top 10 Dressage, New Exclusive Competition for Best Riders in the World at 2017 CDI-W Stockholm