Sunday, 19 May 2013 CDI4* CDI3* CDIU25

Electrifying atmosphere and wonderful freestyle win for GLOCK rider Edward Gal (NED) and GLOCK’s Undercover

What a final as a fitting finish to four days of international dressage at four-star level. Despite the less than inviting weather, Carinthian spectators flocked to the GLOCK HORSE PERFORMANCE CENTER to see ‘their’ stars and above all GLOCK rider Edward Gal (NED) on his jet black GLOCK’s Undercover and Spaniard Juan Manuel Muñoz Díaz on his gorgeous grey Fuego de Cardenas in the freestyle where prize money totalled €75,000. 

Gal’s music Secretum Revelatum transported the almost completely silent audience during the marvellous dressage performance. GLOCK’s Undercover seemed very frisky but showed impressive collection. He made the piaffes and passages look relaxed, the canter powerful, the pirouettes well placed and the half-passes elegant. The audience was captivated and gave the multiple World and European Champion and third in the 2013 World Cup final a big round of applause. An 83.450% score with just about eights to nines for the technical and artistic execution and therefore victory was the judges’ reward in today’s final day of the Dressage International. 

Juan Manuel Muñoz Díaz (ESP) on his magnificent grey Fuego de Cardenas delighted everyone with Spanish music, the sound of castanets and an effortlessness that could almost make you envious. The 15-year-old P.R.E. stallion and his experienced rider took the local crowd by storm. They earned 79.225% for their lovely passages, piaffes, extended trot, precise pirouettes, flying changes in a circle and also one-handed, putting them in second place.

Before riding into the arena Ekwador, the mighty grey stallion ridden by Katarzyna Milczarek (POL), was nervous because of the many umbrellas and gusts of wind. However, in the ring he then concentrated very well. An almost flawless freestyle gave the pair 74.500%, putting them in third.

Andrea John, who has achieved countless placings in international CDI3* and CDI4* events, and her four-legged friend Esperanto also had every reason to be extremely happy with themselves. Not only has the rider from Tyrol taken part in European Championships and World Equestrian Games, but also produced a good freestyle today on her impressive 12-year-old gelding by Escudo II with only a few little lapses of concentration, finally finishing on 70.925% in fifth.

12 CDI4* Int’l Dressage Competition - Grand Prix Freestyle
Test: FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, 2009
1. GLOCK’s Undercover - Gal, Edward (NED) 83.450%
2. Fuego de Cardenas - Muñoz Díaz, Juan Manuel (ESP) 79.225%
3. Ekwador - Milczarek, Katarzyna (POL) 74.500%
4. Riccoletto - Kempkes, Matthias (GER) 71.375%
5. Esperanto 4 - John, Andrea (AUT/Tyrol) 70.925%
6. Twister RVL - Boschman, Seth (NED) 70.850%
7. Don Androsso - Birkenholz, Katharina (GER) 69.275%
8. Le Beau - Jorissen, Philippe (BEL) 68.900%
Results link