The Danish flag 🇩🇰was dominating the top of the scoreboard today
No one is in doubt about Helgstrand Dressage and their leading position when it comes to the best Young Horses in the world.
Today Andreas Helgstrand showed two former World Championship medal horses, Queenparks Wendy by Sezuan / Blue Hors Soprano (at start for Denmark) and Jovian by Apache / Tango (at start for The Netherlands).
Queenparks Wendy with a very good performance today, but not shining like when she was 5 year old. The trot look like a bit on the tempo active and for some moments she is loosing the clear forward flow and becomes a bit passage like in the front, she shows a good walk but for the collected part she needs to show more suppleness, good canter with a technical strong part but for the 9,5 the canter quality must be even more convincing especially for the pirouettes.
How would Jovian cope with the heavy rain?
You were not in doubt about Andreas as he does not enter the World Championships being disturbed by some heavy showers and likewise Jovian was power dancing through the rain. The way Andreas is keeping the big stallion in front of him in a beautiful frame with super contact without any hesitation or misunderstanding, and at the demanding 7 year old level just controlled powering from entering halt to finish halt.
It was a clear 12! for the trot, today a friendly 8,0 for the walk as from the sideline the extended walk was lacking more over track. 9.8 for the canter, yes for the extensions, but going into the pirouettes and the canter quality for the pirouettes were not for a nearly 10. No doubt this is a clear 10 perspective horse and they will be the one to beat in the final Sunday.
What a wife and husband achievement
Marianne Helgstrand show Elverhøj´s Raccolto by Sezuan / Sandro Hit (Dam Polka Hit Nexen former WCYH silver medalist). Raccolto is a dream horse to ride Marianne told, he is always eager to work and please his rider and you really got that feeling watching them together today.
Today’s undoubtedly best canter was worth a clear 10 non of the other horses managed that quality, no matter if it was collected, extended, for flying change or in the pirouettes - clear balance off the ground with top abilities. And for the Jameson RS2 fans yes he does show a 12 for the extensions but as soon as it says collection he is unfortunately not able to maintain the the clear canter beat like Raccolto.
Must have been a very special moment being at the price giving as 1st and 2nd and as husband and wife.
Further placed combinations
Australian Simone Pearce was the only (foreigner) in the top 6. She showed a top motivated Quando Unico without any quality and technical issues. They definitely will go for a medal. The canter today was closer to a 10 than the 9!
Anne-Mette Strandby Hansen with Eternity (at start for Germany) also showed a clear 10 for the trot tour and from H2R point of view also more likely placed in front of Queenparks Wendy today even though the walk is the pace keeping them off the podium.
Nanna Merrald and her Blue Hors Don Olymbrio son Blue Hors Touch of Olympic showed a very solid performance and the three good paces combined with a well prepared and supple test made it to the top of the field.
