Daily Mirror and Benjamin Werndl - photo: @Youtube/FEI
Not “just” the race for the World Cup final
Today it might look like a race for the World Cup final, but for more top combinations this is also the race in the clear direction Tokyo Olympics. The World Ranking points, the percentage, the placement - everything counts.
Can you performe an error free test with top qualities then you for sure will be among the top ones.
H2R made a prediction before the class today saying Cassidy, Daily Mirror and Dark Legend
Unfortunately this prediction failed, and today for one reason, Atterupgaards Cassidy and Cathrine Dufour did not performe up to their usual top class standard, however they still managed the final spot for the podium.
Benjamin showed an effortless test
Daily Mirror GER - super start, flow balance power diagonal, good bending lack tiny balance to right, good halt bit unbalanced rein back, good diagonal, nice passage, coming into piaffe bit to big, change to smaller steps but lack bit balance, transitions lack bit more fluency, good extended walk could stretch bit more towards the hand, good collected walk, good 2nd piaffe miss a bit more clear flow out, nice 2 times, smooth extended canter, tiny unbalance for zigzag, nice 1 times, well prepared 1st pirouette, 2nd lack bit more canter, bit on forehand for transition to trot, nice diagonal, bouncy passage, super nice transitions, and smooth piaffe.
Lottie with power personal best performance
Young British Van Olst Horses rider Charlotte Fry, is on a very solid path towards her spot for both the finals and the Olympics, and today she could add another personal best.
Dark Legend GBR - good halt, power diagonal, supple super balanced half passes, bit early halt for good rein back, power diagonal, smooth into passage, very regular, good 1st piaffe, easy out, good walk tour with nice relaxation, good transition to passage, good 2nd piaffe, could show bit more sit for piaffe, easy transitions, good into canter, nice 2 times, power extension, good zigzag, nice 1 times, super control 1st pirouette, 2nd same and tiny, good into trot, power diagonal, super passage, tiny forward trend final piaffe, nice passage, super halt.
Cathrine lost focus and the victory
Last to go Cathrine Dufour with Atterupgaards Cassidy, no doubt they could beat Benjamin with Daily Mirror if they showed a test with usual top qualities. And in between today there were some really great moments, but starting the first diagonal with a few super steps for the extended trot, and then Cassidy made a huge stumble running into canter, was a very unfortunate start, and from the sideline this incident just made a small cloud over the entire test, with further two errors for the canter tour, and then the very rare error of the course.
For Dufour this World Cup leg in Sweden is about World Ranking points, as she is not aiming for the final with Cassidy.
Atterupgaards Cassidy DEN - super halt, big stumble at the diagonal, bit careful half passes, nice halt with rein back, power diagonal, nice passage, tiny tensions 1st piaffe, good transitions, superb walk tour, super into passage, nice active 2nd piaffe, good transitions, nice transition to canter, error 2 times, error end of extended canter, well balanced 1st SHIT WRONG ROUTE, missing zigzag, nice zigzag, super 1 times, bit unbalanced 1st pirouette, 2nd tiny super quality, nice into trot, power diagonal, good passage, good piaffe, good halt.
Top 3 performances (watch here below)
1 - Daily Mirror - move timeline to 2:08:20
2 - Dark Legend - move timeline to 2:35.20
3 - Atterupgaards Cassidy - move timeline to 2:44:40
