The top 15 finishers of 30 who came through from the Grand Prix on Day One get to advance to Sunday’s Grand Prix Freestyle and another medal round, with a maximum of three riders per country permitted to compete.
Both the weather and the test were factors in Friday’s event. The warm, humid air in the arena was unfamiliar to many of the European riders and their mounts.
Spencer Wilton of Great Britain actually withdrew before competition, after feeling his horse Super Nova II wasn’t in perfect health to perform the Special, which is the most difficult of all Dressage tests.
It’s not just the length of the Special that catches riders out, although it’s certainly a factor in three days of world competition. The test features the most challenging transitions in Dressage, such as going from a walk straight into piaffe, and calls for a horse that can handle enormous range.
Werth’s horse was definitely up to the task, and the duo demonstrated literally perfect transitions in some elements, as well as a bold extended canter, effortless passage, and textbook supple half passes.
Graves’ horse, Verdades, showed exceptional pirouettes, exemplary bend in the half pass, and clean, balanced transitions for a well-deserved silver medal.
Going into the interim break at midday, the podium was up for grabs, and the morning class couldn’t be ruled out yet. Kristy Oatley of Australia, one of the earliest riders of the day, turned in a stellar ride at 74.605 percent, and held the lead until the afternoon.
Right behind her were Beatriz Ferrer-Salat and Claudio Castilla Ruiz, both of Spain and both tied at 74.103. In fourth place was Judy Reynolds of Ireland, who executed a clean, upbeat program for 73.997 percent.
All of the morning’s top four will advance to Sunday’s competition. Reynolds’ inclusion will be the first time ever an Irish rider has made it to a WEG Grand Prix Freestyle, and no doubt her nation will be cheering extra loudly for her.
As Friday afternoon continued, the leaderboard switched with nearly every rider. Patrik Kittel of Sweden set the bar high with a score of 79.726. Would it be enough to snag a medal?
Alas, no, as Kittel had to settle for fifth place, behind Germany’s fourth-place Sönke Rothenberger, whom the seven judges awarded 81.277 points.
The crowd held its breath for Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin. While Dujardin holds the world record for the highest Grand Prix Special score at 88 percent, her mare Mount St John Freestyle is a young nine years old and only made a Grand Prix debut in April.
The British duo came through with an expressive ride, putting the Hanoverian’s huge extended trot and superb lift in the passage on display for 81.489 percent and what would ultimately be the bronze medal ride after Werth’s test.
