Adelinde Cornelissen rode Jerich Parzival to victory at the Exquis World Dressage Masters Saturday with their best ever Grand Prix score of 81.362 per cent while Laura Bechtolsheimer and Andretti turned in their best ever result of 73.362 per cent for runnerup and home side joy.
Hans Peter Minderhoud and Exquis Nadine, selected to be on the Dutch team with Adelinde at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky in September, finished third with 70.936 per cent.
The €10,000 Grand Prix kicked off the fifth and final CDI5* event for 2010, the second year of the richest lineup of dressage competitions that started with Palm Beach, USA, then moved to Munich, Germany, Cannes, France and Falsterbo, Sweden for the first time. Each of the events carries total prize money of €100,000.
“He was even better than in Aachen,” Adelinde said of the comparison with her ride at the World Equestrian Festival where she said the 13-year-old chestnut gelding is starting to ramp up for WEG.
“I am really happy. He was focused. My goal today was to ride each part of the test bit by bit, to really ride every exercise.
It is so rewarding to set goals for yourself and achieve them, which is what we did today. We are taking it step by step, and we are on track.”
Parzival, who was difficult to ride in his early years of training and even six months ago appeared uncomfortable around strangers, has become so relaxed now that he seems to enjoy the limelight.
“Now he loves to go into the arena, to see the crowds,” Adelinde said. “He is really happy.”
Adelinde did not know how her score compared with previous Grand Prix, but a search of the official International Equestrian Federation records showed Saturday's result was their best ever in the Grand Prix.
This was the same event a year ago where Edward Gal and Moorlands Totilas posted a world record score at that time in the Grand Prix Musical Freestyle. Edward was here to autograph a book, but Totilas was not entered for this competition after sweeping the three CDIO classes at Aachen earlier this month.
Laura, 25, Great Britain's top dressage rider, said that not only was she pleased with the pair's best ever score but “I'm chuffed” at beating one of The Netherlands' “A” squad rider, Hans Peter.
“It's stunning to have a spare, a second horse, that's successful,” she said. “It's brilliant.”
The €30,000 Grand Prix Special and the €60,000 Freestyle will be held Sunday.
The winner of Sunday's freestyle will also be awarded a pack of six bottles of Chateau des Launes rosé wine (the real stuff, not a mixture of red and white wines), in addition to their prize money.
Results of the Grand Prix:
1º Adelinde Cornelissen NED – Jerich Parzival – 81.362%
2º Laura Bechtolshemer GBR – Andretti – 73.362%
3º Hans Peter Minderhoud NED – Exquis Nadine – 70.936%
4º Carl Hester GBR – Liebling II – 70.213%
5º Anja Plönzke GER – Le Mont d'Or – 69.362%
6º Maria Eilberg GBR – Two Sox – 68.979%
7º Michal Rapcewicz POL – Randon – 68.383%
8º Daniel Sherriff GBR – Bayford Hall Dallaglio 67.702%
9º Marc Boblet FRA – Whitni Star – 67.660%
10º Philippe Jorrissen BEL – Le Beau – 67.660%
11º Henriette Anderson GBR – Louis d'Or – 67.489%
12º Evi Strasser CAN – Quantum Tyme – 66.128%
13º Brett Parbery AUS – Victory Salute 65.830%
14º Rafael Ortiz Alcala-Zamora ESP – G-Nidium 1 – 64.936%
15º Judy Harvey GBR – Fitzgeraldo – 64.809%
16º Jose Antonio Garcia Mena ESP Norte – 64.511%
17º Fanny Verkiefden BEL – Rubel 13 – 64.468%
18º Amy Stovold GBR – Macbrian – 64.170%
19º Michael Eilberg GBR – Monet – 59.532%