- Simply sensational: GLOCK rider Edward Gal (NED) and Glock’s Undercover © Michael Rzepa
05 Grand Prix de Dressage
Out of this world – Edward Gal and Glock's Undercover win the CDI4* Grand Prix
Every last seat was taken round the standard dressage arena at the Glock Horse Performance Center and you could have heard a pin drop when star rider Edward Gal made his entrance to start in an Austrian competition for the first time. He was riding his Olympic horse Glock's Undercover, the 11-year-old Ferro son that Gal himself describes as extremely ambitious and with which he took Team bronze in London.
In the lead at this point was Italy's Valentina Truppa with her Olympic horse Eremo del Castegno and a total of 73.574% for a dream Grand Prix – where she only garnered very low scores for her flying changes. Just before her, the first GLOCK rider Hans Peter Minderhoud (NED) on his 12-year-old stallion Glock's Tango had been impressive. He was only slightly behind the Italian in second with 72.766%.
- Amazing atmosphere at the Glock Horse Performance Center © Michael Rzepa
- Victory ceremony with celebrities: Glock's Undercover, Edward Gal, Kathrin Glock and film star Don Johnson © Nini Schäbel
Everyone seemed to hold their breath during Edward Gal's performance with the elegant gelding. Their piaffes were amazingly precise, their passages strong, canter extended and pirouettes enchanting. Whoever saw the two at the Olympic Games will also have noted the progress they have made within this short space of time. The judges awarded the GHPC dream team top marks: 77.617%, which was the winning score. "We're not done yet," grinned Edward almost mischievously at the prize giving, "there's room for improvement tomorrow," and set off on his lap of honour accompanied by thunderous applause from the delighted fans. The GHPC adored Edward and Frits today.
Quotes:
Edward Gal:
Undercover and I make a good team because we both always want to perform. He wants to move forward, is ambitious and I feel an improvement every time. I'm delighted with him every day and tomorrow I hope there'll be goose pimples for our new Freestyle!
Hans Peter Minderhoud:
I am very pleased. Glock's Tango is a very talented horse that has mastered a great number of movements. But he can also lack focus. He saw Claudia Fassaert's mare in the practice area and got quite excited. Then it was more or less goodbye to his concentration. As a result, after starting well I tailed off towards the end, but I'm happy with third place. Tomorrow we'll go all out in the Freestyle.
- Andrea John (Vienna) excelled with Esperanto for Austria © Nini Schäbel
Austria's Andrea John was also on a high today. The Viennese rider succeeded in gaining 67.957% and eighth place with Esperanto!