With just three qualifiers to go before the Las Vegas Final in April,
the FEI World Cup Dressage spotlight turns on Germany this weekend.
Neumunster hosts the seventh round of the season where some familiar
stars and new contenders will battle for those valuable qualifying
points.
Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff, who has led from the front the whole way and
heads the standings on 65 points, is due to introduce her exciting
10-year old Oldenbuger stallion Sterntaler-Unicef to FEI World Cup
competition this weekend.
Both riders who share equal fourth in the standings on 49 points -
Holland's Sven Rothenberger and Denmark's Andreas Helgstrand - are due
in Germany to shore up their Las Vegas challenges, as is sixth placed
Lone Joergensen.
Edward Gal, who won so convincingly in Amsterdam with Lingh to claim
seventh place in the standings at the moment, brings Gribaldi to
Neumunster.
Having done two shows so far for 33 points, Hubertus Schmidt will be
hoping to rise up the standings from fourteenth if Wansuela Suerte can
do her best on home territory.
More heat from the German contingent is expected as Athens team gold
medallist Martin Schaudt enters the mix with Weltall. Although Schaudt
has yet to open his FEI World Cup account, he has figured in the line up
at Neumunster for the past two years.
Pressure from outside will be increased by the presence of Jan Brink and
Bjorsell's Briar. The Swedish pair placed third in Amsterdam in their
first outing since Athens, and Brink said afterwards that in Neumunster
he would decide whether to battle on and try for a ticket to Las Vegas
or bow out and concentrate on the European Championships in July. With just the top eight in the standings winning tickets to the Final,
the other contenders will be watching with great interest too.

Timetable:
FEI World Cup Grand Prix
Saturday February 19th, 08.00

FEI World Cup Freestyle to Music Qualifier
Sunday February 20th, 08.30

Media Contact:
Gabriele Mohrmann-Pochhammer
gmpmazurka@aol.aom
Mobile +49 172 4330934

For further information on CDI-W Neumunster
www.reitturnier.de