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Gal and Undercover Reign Supreme on Home Ground at ‘s-Hertogenbosch

Left to right – third-placed Hans Peter Minderhoud/Glock’s Flirt from The Netherlands, runners-up Isabell Werth/Don Johnson FRH from Germany and winners Edward Gal/Glock’s Undercover from The Netherlands. (FEI/Arnd Bronkhorst)

‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED), 14 March 2015 – The Netherlands’ Edward Gal and Glock’s Undercover clinched victory at the last qualifying leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League on home ground at ‘s-Hertogenbosch today. Always favourites to take maximum points after their convincing win in yesterday’s Grand Prix, the pair didn’t disappoint this afternoon when producing some spectacular work when third-last into the arena. But Gal’s masterful riding skills were fully tested by moments of tension from the 14-year-old gelding with which he finished third at the Reem Acra Final in Lyon, France last season.

Runner-up today was Germany’s Isabell Werth who nailed a great performance with Don Johnson FRH, and it was an excellent result for the host nation contingent as Hans Peter Minderhoud and Glock’s Flirt lined up third ahead of fellow-Dutchman Diederik van Silfhout and Arlando NH in fourth spot.

Up for grabs

With last-minute points still up for grabs it was always going to be an interesting contest, and Sweden’s Paulinda Friberg took full advantage of one more opportunity to add to her scoreline when posting 76.750 with her black mare, di Lapponia T, just after the judging break. This would eventually leave her in eighth place in today’s competition and in overall eleventh spot on the series leaderboard. And, as it turned out, it was plenty good enough to book her ticket to the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Final in Las Vegas, USA next month.

Patrick van der Meer posted an impressive 77.750 with Uzzo to take the lead just before Werth set off with Don Johnson who really turned it on today as he set a significantly higher target score of 81.650. The double FEI World Cup™ Dressage champion decided some time ago that El Santo would be her choice for Las Vegas, but she also wanted to demonstrate the improvements “Johnny” has made. And her decision to return to the music she used when campaigning her former star Warum Nicht, or Hannes as he was also known, turned out to be something of a triumph.

Continues to sparkle

Spain’s Morgan Barbancon Mestre didn’t present any real threat when scoring 78.900 with Painted Black, but at 18 years of age this stallion, who was so successful earlier in his career for Dutch legend Anky van Grunsven from The Netherlands, continues to sparkle. And his mark would eventually leave the pair in fifth spot and earn another of those much-sought-after berths in Las Vegas.

However, all eyes were on Gal and Glock’s Undercover as they set off with just three left to run, and it was clear from the outset that the Dutchman was not going to have an easy time. Gal knows how to create enormous energy and power in his horses, but containing it is another thing entirely and the 45-year-old ace had to call on all his extensive experience to complete a test that swung from brilliant to extremely tense. Such was the quality of the good work that the scoreboard showed 84.925 after they left the arena.

Diederik van Silfhout produced a happy, balanced and compliant performance from Arlando NH for a mark of 79.925 when second-last to go while Dutch compatriot, Hans Peter Minderhoud, also had plenty of reason to be pleased with Glock’s Flirt when last to go. The chestnut stallion was confident and rhythmic throughout his test, and Dutch coach, Wim Ernes, was smiling broadly when a mark of 80.425 went up on the board for this pair.

Winning test

Gal talked afterwards about his winning test during which he ran into trouble during both of his tempi changes.

“He (Glock’s Undercover) felt very good at the start but then we made a little mistake, and at the start of the changes there was another mistake and we lost a little bit there, but for most of it he felt quite good,” he said.

He said he was expecting a strong test because Undercover did a good warm-up, “but when he came in to the big arena with all those people he was very aware of them. When we started I thought, “OK, this is really nice!”, but the mistakes cost us a lot of points even though the percentage marks we got were good.” So now he’s thinking ahead to how his horse will cope with the buzz and excitement of the Thomas & Mack Arena in Las Vegas.

“It is the way he is to get a little excited, so for me it’s better not to think too much about it!” he said this evening. “I just hope he will grow into it; it felt easier for him today but you never know. The difference for me now is that I feel I have enough control and I’m enjoying riding him like this, but I will have to ride my very best there. I know he will be a little bit tense, but when he goes well he is so brilliant, and I will just have to try very hard to help him!” he insisted.

Made the cut

Today’s result has now decided the top nine riders who have made the cut to the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final 2014/2015, but it is not the first nine names on the Western European League leaderboard.

There can only be three representatives from each nation, and since five of the top nine are from Germany, only Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, Fabienne Lutkemeier and Isabell Werth will fly their nation’s flag while Ulla Salzgeber and Sonke Rothenberger miss out. Gal, Danielle Heijkoop and Minderhoud will represent The Netherlands while Agnete Kirk Thinggaard will be the sole Danish competitor, and the door to the 30th FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final has opened up for Spain’s Morgan Barbancon Mestre and Denmark’s Paulinda Friberg.

For further information on the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 qualifier at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, visit website www.indoorbrabant.com or contact Press Officer Denise van der Net, Email denisene@xs4all.net, Tel +31 627 031 674.

The Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2015 Final will take place in Las Vegas, USA from 15 to 19 April. For details of the event, visit www.worldcuplasvegas.com or contact Press Officer Marty Baumann, Email marty@classic-communications.com, Tel +1 508 698 6810.

Detailed result here.

Facts and Figures:

The ninth and last leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League took place today at the Brabanthalle in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands.

The competition was won by Dutchman Edward Gal riding the 14-year-old gelding Glock’s Undercover.

Runner-up was Germany’s Isabell Werth with Don Johnson FRH while host nation riders filled four of the top six places.

The Ground Jury for today’s Freestyle was: at E, Magnus Ringmark SWE; at H, Francis Verbeek van Rooy NED; at C, Ghislain Fouarge NED; at M, Peter Holler GER; at B, Jacques van Daele BEL.

Today’s winning partnership finished third at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2013/2014 Final in Lyon, France last April.

Gal previously claimed the FEI World Cup™ Dressage title in 2010 riding the black stallion Totilas and completes the 2014/2015 series at the top of the Western European League leader board.

The Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Final will be held in Las Vegas, USA from 15 to 19 April.

Full standings here.

FEI YouTube

Reem Acra FEI Hub http://fei.org/fei/sponsors/reem-acra-and-fei gives access to extensive information about the series.

FEI World Cup™ Dressage, the only worldwide series in this discipline, is now in its 30th season. The series, created in 1985, comprises four leagues: Western European, Central European, North American (including Canada) and Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Asia). Each FEI World Cup™ Dressage qualifier consists of a Grand Prix test, which in turn is a qualification for the Freestyle to Music competition, where league points are accumulated towards places in the Final. Judged on both technical and artistic merit, the FEI World Cup™ Dressage combines art, sport and partnership between horse and rider at the highest level and consistently proves a winning formula with audiences all over the world.

The complete rules, calendar, updated ranking and results are available here.

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

At ‘s-Hertogenbosch:

Denise van der Net
Press Officer
denisene@xs4all.net
+31 627 031 674

At FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 133

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