Germanyâs Dorothee Schneider and Showtime FRH were convincing winners of the fourth leg of the FEI World Cup⢠Dressage 2016/2017 Western European League at Salzburg in Austria today. From a starting field of 13, the world no. 3 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games gold-medal-winning partnership finished more than five full percentage points ahead of runners-up Severo Jesus Jurado Lopez and Lorenzo from Spain. And on another really strong day for the German contingent, it was Jessica von Bredow-Werndl who slotted into third place with Unee BB ahead of compatriot Fabienne Lutkemeier and DâAgostini FRH in fourth.
Australiaâs Kristy Oatley and Du Soleil held the advantage going into the judging break on a score of 76.998, and her sixth-place finish at the end of the day has moved her up to the top of the League leaderboard, ahead of Lutkemeier, going into the fifth leg at London Olympia (GBR) this week.
However 47-year-old Schneider and her 10-year-old gelding set a whole new standard when posting 85.292 for a fabulous test when fifth-last to go. Jurado Lopez achieved the only other over-80 percent score, his 10-year-old gelding swaggering to the strains of Santana during an exuberant performance that earned a mark of 80.273. The fresh Austrian air seemed to add an extra spring to the step of several of the horses and the Spaniard didnât showcase his trademark one-handed final centreline, while third-placed von Bredow-Werndl admitted that her 16-year-old stallion was also feeling âa bit cheekyâ on his first outing in eight months when scoring 79.275.
But despite the fact that this was Showtimeâs first start since the Games in August, Schneider and her lovely gelding, who also topped yesterdayâs Grand Prix, were in a league of their own. âItâs the same Freestyle as Rio, we started doing it in May this year and itâs very perfect for this horse!â said the German rider who believes Showtime has even more to give. âHeâs young and needs a little bit more power, but he has so much rhythm and energy and I know we can improveâ she said.
The FEI World Cup⢠Dressage 2017 Final in Omaha, Nebraska (USA) next March is her target, but earning one of the three slots available to German riders is no simple task. âI hope to compete in Amsterdam (NED) and Neumunster (GER) and we just have to see how it works outâ she said today.
Source: FEI (by Louise Parkes)
