Sixth Grand Prix Title for Maria Caetano at 2024 Portuguese Dressage Championships

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2024 Portuguese Dressage Championships

Children rider Guilherme Broega, junior rider Alice Fernandes, young rider Tiago Ferreira , Under 25 rider Catarina Lopes, and senior Grand Prix rider Maria Caetano became the winners of the 2024 Portuguese Dressage Championships held at the "Clube Hipico do Norte" in Esposende, Portugal on 27 - 29 September 2024.

For the senior Grand Prix championship eight riders gathered in Esposende to compete for the title. Portuguese Olympic team riders Caetano and Ralao were in place, Joao Moreira did not make the trip from Germany as his horse Furst Kennedy is still recovering.

Sixth GP Title for Caetano

Caetano renewed her title from 2023 aboard her Paris Olympic rider, the 12-year old Portuguese sport horse bred Hit Plus (by Bretton Woods x Peralta Pinha). The pair won all three rounds and was the only combination to score over 70% in each of the three rounds. Caetano posted 71,631% in the Grand Prix, 72,425% in the Special, and 75,900% in the Freestyle. Her total average was 73.319% for the gold medal.

For Caetano this is her sixth senior title in her career and 8th including youth titles.

"Hit was amazing this weekend," Caetano rejoiced. "We did three mistake-free tests with a super connection between horse and rider, enjoying every moment inside the ring! He is in super shape and very happy."

The title was a good boast for Maria's morale after Paris did not go as well as hoped for. "It was great to have such a feeling after the Olympics in Paris, where the things didn't work as we expected," she said. "In Paris I was quite disappointed because Hit arrived there in very good condition, but on the day of the test some factors went wrong and we couldn't perform as expected. But the sport is like this. It's made of good and bad days. So we arrived home after Paris, with the head up, looking forward to the next goal... and here we are!"

Ralao and Torrao on the Podium

The silver went to Rita Ralao Duarte aboard the 11-year old Lusitano Irão (by Rubi x Xaquiro). She built up momentum throughout the weekend improving her score with each round. She got 69,370% in the Grand Prix, 71,383% in the Special and 74,980% in the freestyle. She became the reserve champion with an average of 71.911%.

Tokyo Olympian Joao Torrao and the 9-year old Lusitano Lirio MVL (by Zeus do Lis x El-Negro) captured bronze with an average of 71.234%. This combination got 70,717% in the Grand Prix, 69,489% in the Special and 73,495% in the freestyle.

Results - 2024 Portuguese Dressage Championships - Esposende

Children

1. Guilherme Broega - Minuto 77,750 79,050 77,213 --- 78.004
2. Lara Carreira - Inca 73,286 72,225 74,255 --- 73.255
3. Carminho Filipe - Luar Da Caniceira 72,875 73,700 69,903 --- 72.159
4. Maria Almeida - Gentil 69,768 68,025 72,931 --- 70.241
5. Áurea Sábio - For Plus 68,643 68,875 69,695 --- 69.071
6. Carlota Lopes - Miss Do Olival 64,822 68,725 67,556 --- 67.034
7. Julia Lopes - Aquiles Do Ilheu 67,482 64,025 62,787 --- 64.765
8. Leonor Romba - Ramon 66,518 64,475 60,560 --- 63.851

Junior Riders

1. Alice Fernandes - Luzidio - 67,091 65,588 71,440 --- 68.040
2. Antonio Soares - Epico Das Figueiras - 67,030 65,147 68,380 --- 66.852
3. Francisco Braz - Fado - 64,546 68,618 66,355 --- 66.506
4. Leonor Coelho - Monarca Do Lis - 60,303 66,353 70,805 --- 65.820
5. Ema Ferreira - Medronho Zambujal - 63,242 63,853 63,960 --- 63.685
6. Mariana Vaz - Latino - 61,848 62,882 65,210 --- 63.313

Young Riders

1. Tiago Ferreira - Diamo Dream - 67,706 69,559 73,240 --- 70.168
2. Briana Vintila - Inana B - 69,088 67,529 71,235 --- 69.284
3. Nicole Silva - Funji - 66,941 68,882 71,025 --- 68.949
4. Francisca Monteiro - Invictus Vf - 66,294 66,353 70,270 --- 67.639
5. Maria Abecasis - Delgado - 65,353 66,000 66,935 --- 66.096
6. Maria Braz - Carthago Comando Sn - 64,882 64,941 --- 68,405 66.076

Under 25

1. Catarina Lopes - Hercules D'atela - 69,000 69,128 73,245 --- 70.458
2. Pedro Garrido - Jockey - 68,324 69,307 72,410 --- 70.014
3. Andre Bras - Fevereiro - 67,324 68,513 70,860 --- 68.899
4. Joao Nogueira - Forreta. - 65,412 62,051 64,520 --- 63.994

Senior Grand Prix

1. Maria Caetano - Hit Plus - 71,631 72,425 75,900 --- 73.319
2. Rita Duarte - Irão - 69,370 71,383 74,980 --- 71.911
3. João Torrao - Lirio Mvl - 70,717 69,489 73,495 --- 71.234
4. Vasco Godinho - Limbro Da Hermida - 69,544 69,638 73,310 --- 70.831
5. Mariana Silva - Iji Hp - 67,326 69,277 72,070 --- 69.558
6. Luciana Inacio - Iraque - 67,369 67,830 71,290 --- 68.830
7. Duarte Nogueira - Joba Ii - 65,130 67,064 68,645 --- 66.946
8. Ricardo Reis - Lord Das Faias - 64,913 66,511 69,040 ---- 66.821