-- FEI press release, edited by Eurodressage
With an outstanding score of 91.140% Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour (DEN) and Mount St John Freestyle delivered the highest mark of the 2024-2025 World Cup season so far at the CDI-W Gothenburg on 22 February 2025.
Their brilliant ride secured an overwhelming victory in the vast Scandinavium arena. The entire top three achieved personal bests, with Maria von Essen (SWE) claiming second place aboard Invoice on home soil, and Corentin Pottier (FRA) taking third with Gotilas.
Ruling the Weekend
Laudrup-Dufour left no doubt as to who ruled the weekend, leading by over 10% in the Grand Prix and maintaining an 8% margin in the Freestyle.
Entering the arena as the final combination and the clear favourite for victory, Laudrup-Dufour excelled with her highly technical, refined riding. The enthusiastic crowd was already cheering before she even began her Freestyle, which, according to Laudrup-Dufour, caused some extra tension in her mare.
“It’s wonderful to have the crowd cheering for us; it brings a lot of positivity. But we do need to go in and deliver a high-focused performance." She added, "Freestyle is absolutely wonderful. A true show woman. I feel we are getting more and more comfortable together; she really starts to trust me."
Mount St John Freestyle (by Fidermark x Donnerhall), who is owned by a syndicate made up of Laudrup-Dufour & Zinglersen Aps and Mount St John Equestrian Llp), produced unmatched scores this World Cup season. However, the Danish athlete has no plans to compete in the World Cup Final.
Wild Card?
The FEI does not work with Wild Cards for the Final but has one "Extra starting place" for the Final. However it's allocation goes first to the "highest placed Non-WEL Athlete qualifying in the WEL provided the Non-WEL Athlete finished in the top nine (9) Athletes in the final WEL Standings;" and if there's no athlete than it goes to "one (1) Athlete from the host NF, if no host NF Athlete is already qualified;" if not it goes to "a permanently domiciled non-league Athlete who qualifies in the League where they are domiciled," and only in a fourth scenario, "if starting places are still available, these will be allocated to the Athlete/Horse combination(s) with the highest ranking (as a combination) on the February of the current year FEI Dressage World Ranking List (DWRL), and who have participated in at least two (2) CDI-W qualifiers."
Wonderful End, Tense Start
With personal bests being broken and four combinations scoring over 80%, the competition in Gothenburg concluded on a high note. However, the start of the event was somewhat challenging, as several horses found the Scandinavium’s vibrant atmosphere difficult to handle.
The competition truly gained momentum with start number six: Domien Michiels and Marc Steeno's Belgian warmblood Intermezzo van het Meerdaalhof (by Gribaldi x Balzflug), the pair that won the World Cup leg in Gothenburg last year. This time, they delivered a technically strong Freestyle to place seventh with 77.430%.
A Family Affair: Husband and Wife in Gothenburg
Camille Judet Cheret (FRA) with Herelja Higgins (by Johnson x Gribaldi) and her husband Corentin Pottier (FRA) with Gotilas (by Totilas x Ferro) experienced a special weekend in Gothenburg. Having competed in Mechelen in December and then Neumünster last week, both athletes travelled straight to Sweden. Judet Cheret and the diligent Herelja Higgins finishing ninth, after their eighth place in Neumünster. Pottier, starting later in the field, once again secured third place, just as he had in Neumünster, with the ever-willing and sympathetic Gotilas.
Close Competition at the Top
Just before the break, Nanna Skodborg Merrald (DEN) and Blue Hors Znickers (by Zack x De Niro) raised the stakes. After difficulties in the piaffe during the Grand Prix, the duo delivered a much better Freestyle, with the talented, long-legged chestnut moving energetically through the test to earn 79.270%, securing fifth place. Merrald, who won in Neumünster last week with Blue Hors Zepter, appears well on track for her fourth consecutive World Cup Final.
Immediately after the break, the experienced Dorothee Schneider (GER) and First Romance (by Furst Romancier x Daydream) performed a Freestyle with a strong trot tour, although the piaffes could be more secure. A minor mistake in the two-tempi changes on the joker line left them just short of Merrald’s score, finishing with 79.095%.
The third-place finisher from the Grand Prix, Bianca Nowag-Aulenbrock, rode the always cheerful mare Florine OLD (by Foundation x Lauries Crusador xx) with harmony and an excellent contact throughout the test. While the mare appeared somewhat hurried in the extended gaits, their lovely and soft overall picture earned them high marks. With 80.450%, Nowag-Aulenbrock achieved a personal best, but it was just shy of a podium finish.
Scoring High on Double-Coefficient Movements
But the best was saved for last. When Laudrup-Dufour and Mount St John Freestyle entered the arena, they brought an unforgettable close to this day filled with personal bests.
The FEI Dressage World Cup™ season is now approaching its final leg. On 14 and 15 March, the last leg will take place at The Dutch Masters in ’s-Hertogenbosch. Who will secure their ticket to the Final?
Related Links
Scores: 2025 CDI-W Gothenburg
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2025 World Cup Qualifiers and Final