Beatriz Ferrer-Salat Wins the "Copa del Rey" at the 2023 CDI 4* Madrid

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2023 CDI Madrid

After missing out on the 2023 European Dressage Championships in Riesenbeck, Beatriz Ferrer-Salat's Elegance returned to his winning ways at the CDI 4* at the Club de Campo in Villa de Madrid on 20 - 22 October 2023 claiming the "Copa del Rey" - The King's Cup.

A special trophy is awarded the high scorer of the 4* Grand Prix tour over two rounds: the Grand Prix and Kur to Music

Neck-to-Neck

It was a neck-to-neck race between the 2004 Olympic individual bronze medal winner from Spain (Beatriz Ferrer-Salat) and the Portuguese Olympian and five-time Portuguese Grand Prix champion (Maria Caetano). The latter won last year's Copa del Rey, but this year stayed a fraction behind Spain's national dressage treasure.

In 2022 Ferrer-Salat's 14-year old Dutch warmblood Elegance (by Negro x Monaco) had a one-year break from sport due to injury and he returned to the international scene in May 2033, winning straight away at the CDI Camarma de Esteruales. Although the pair competed in the Spanish team selection trials for Riesenbeck, this year their scores fell short for team selection.

Taking the summer off, the duo came back in Madrid and scored a winning 73.152% in the Grand Prix in a field of 17 competitors and were second in the Kur with 77.065%, right behind Caetano. Bea's point total over the two rounds (150.217 points) made her win the Copa del Rey. Caetano was breathing down her neck with 150.184 points.

Three Wins and Two Personal Bests

Although title defender Maria Caetano did not return home with the King's Cup, the Portuguese celebrated a triple win in Madrid.

Aboard the 11-year old Luso Warmblood Hit Plus (by Bretton Woods x Peralta Pinha) she was second in the Grand Prix (72.609%) and won the freestyle with 77.575% riding Michael Jackson music.

Maria also brought along her third Grand Prix, the 11-year old Lusitano Horizonte (by Rico x Icaro), and dominated the 3* tour, winning the Grand Prix with 73.891% and the Special with 75.043%. She twice had Spaniard Juan Antonio Jimenez on her heels aboard Quartar (by Quantensprung x Laurentio), a 9-year old Hanoverian which Jimenez bought at the Hanoverian Auction in Verden as a 4-year old.

"Thank you Horizonte for the amazing feeling you gave me in Madrid these days and for helping me reaching my personal best results in GP and GPS," said Caetano who produced new personal best scores on her newest ride. "You are such a super star and we are just in the beginning of our journey together!"