Exquis World Dressage Masters Grand Prix Special Won by Susanne Lebek & Potomac 4
15 years ago StraightArrow Comments Off on Exquis World Dressage Masters Grand Prix Special Won by Susanne Lebek & Potomac 4
By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
MUNICH, Germany, May 15–Overcoming his first day show nerves, Potomac 4 was ridden by Susanne Lebek to win the €30,000 (US$37,000) Exquis World Dressage Masters Grand Prix Special on Saturday, the first time the German has competed in the globe’s richest lineup of dressage shows.
Susanne and the 15-year-old stallion put in an inspired ride to score 75.542 per cent and first place prize money of €8,250 (US$10,200) with Christoph Koschel on Donnperignon second on 72.792 per cent and €6,050 (US$7,480) and Italy’s Valentina Truppa on Eremo del Castegno third with 72.187 per cent and €3,840 (US$4,745).
The 41-year-old rider said she had a lot of fun competing in the WDM, finishing fourth in the Grand Prix on Friday behind the top two Dutch combinations of Edward Gal and Moorlands Totilas and Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival and the number one German, Isabell Werth.
“But I am mainly doing my own thing,” said the self-effacing rider who makes light of making the German team at the 2009 European Championships–“it was just because so many of our horses had to drop out; it is difficult for us to be on the team.”
Consequently, she said that making the German team for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky this year “is not a priority.”
The €60,000 (US$74,150) Grand Prix Musical Freestyle will be held Sunday with Edward and Totilas the hot favorites, and a victory would clinch the €25,000 (US$30,900) Nürnburger Versicherungsgruppe WDM Rider Rankings.
