Laudrup-Dufour Dominates Gothenburg with Season’s Top Score
Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour (DEN) and Mount St John Freestyle ©FEI/Kim C Lundin
With an outstanding score of 91.140%, Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour (DEN) and the highly talented Mount St John Freestyle delivered the highest mark of this FEI Dressage World Cup™ season so far. Their brilliant ride secured an overwhelming victory in Gothenburg, in the vast Scandinavium arena. The entire top three achieved personal bests, with Maria von Essen (SWE) claiming second place on home soil with Invoice, and Corentin Pottier (FRA) taking third with Gotilas Du Feuillard.
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. Her scores with Mount St John Freestyle (owned by Laudrup-Dufour & Zinglersen Aps and Mount St John Equestrian Llp) are unmatched throughout this FEI Dressage World Cup™ season. However, the Danish athlete has no plans to compete in the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final: “This was only our second World Cup competition this season, and the next one in ’s-Hertogenbosch comes too soon. Maybe we could go via a Wild Card, but our focus is on the European Championships this summer,” she explained.
Entering the arena as the final combination and the clear favourite for victory, Laudrup-Dufour showed breathtaking piaffe and passage work, and both power and relaxation to secure a top score. 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.
“Freestyle is absolutely wonderful. A true show woman. I feel we are getting more and more comfortable together; she really starts to trust me.”
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 Intermezzo van het Meerdaalhof (owned by Marc Steeno), the pair that won the FEI Dressage World Cup™ leg in Gothenburg last year. This time, they delivered a technically strong Freestyle to place seventh with 77.430%.
Camille Judet Cheret (FRA) with Herelja Higgins (owned by Francoise Bourgeois and S.A.S. Pamfou Dressage) and her husband Corentin Pottier (FRA) with Gotilas du Feuillard (owned by Maryse Pottier, Herve Pottier, and Camille Judet Cheret) experienced a special weekend in Gothenburg. Having competed in Neumünster last week, both athletes travelled straight to Sweden. Judet Cheret and the diligent Herelja Higgins showcased excellent collected work, 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 du Feuillard.
There was even more to celebrate, as Pottier shared: “Two personal bests in a row; I could have never imagined doing this. It is wonderful to compete here together with my wife. We share all our adventures. We live together, we work together, we do everything together, and now with a baby on the way, it makes it even more special.”
Just before the break, Nanna Skodborg Merrald (DEN) and Blue Hors Znickers (owned by Blue Hors Aps) 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. Skodborg Merrald, who won in Neumünster last week with Blue Hors Zepter, appears well on track for her fourth consecutive FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final.
Immediately after the break, the experienced Dorothee Schneider (GER) and First Romance 2 (owned by Gabrielle Kippert) 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 Skodborg 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 (owned by Elisabeth von Wulffen) 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.
As the penultimate competitor, home favourite Maria von Essen entered the arena with Invoice (owned by Alexanders Hovslageri & Häst Ab). While the compact Invoice could still show more length in the frame, his true strengths lie in the highly collected movements. His effortless piaffe and pirouettes, both double-counting elements, helped secure a high score. “It is just amazing to ride in front of your home audience. With my trainers and family watching, setting this result feels unreal,” von Essen said.
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.
by Bettine van Harselaar
