Totilas Sets New Grand Prix Special World Record at Aachen CDIO
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By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
AACHEN, Germany, July 17–Moorlands Totilas was ridden by Edward Gal to a new world record score of 86.458 per cent for the Grand Prix Special at the World Equestrian Festival CDIO Saturday, and now hold the records for all three top dressage competitions.
“Just when you wonder whether it can get better,” Edward said after the 10-year-old black stallion created the new record, “he does this. What can I say? I have no words to describe how I feel.”
Superlatives barely describe the impact the son of Gribaldi has had on dressage and his performance in one of the most competitive events ever–Edward labeled the event a “small world championship”–brought the packed Deutsche Bank stadium to its feet. As with the Grand Prix on Thursday, although every available space was packed, there was an awed silence during the six minutes of the ride.
So high was the quality of the competition that judges and informed observers noted that Totilas aside, any of the five highest finishing horse and rider pairs could have won any championship anywhere in the world. Exciting for many was the re-emergence of Germany and the continuing strength of Great Britain led by Laura Bechtolsheimer.
Jerich Parzival, a 13-year-old Jazz gelding ridden by Edward’s Dutch team mate Adelinde Cornelissen placed second on 82.542 per cent, which was shy of the world mark of 84.042 per cent that she set at the European Championships last August.
Parzival, she said, like all the other horses still had two months of training before going to the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. Then, she said, she would be prepared to fight for the world championship. They are the only pair to beat Totilas since he began his Grand Prix career, which they have done twice–in the Grand Prix Special at the European Championships in 2009 and at Grand Prix in the World Cup Final at ‘s-Hertogonbosch in March.
Laura Bechtolsheimer on Mistral Hojris continued as a force at the highest levels to place third on 79.375 per cent with Germany’s Isabell Werth on her 2008 Olympic mount Satchmo fourth on 76.417 per cent.
Isabell on Satchmo led her team of relative rookies to a silver medal finish in the team competition behind The Netherlands. She had previously only been on a team with Matthias Alexander Rath and Sterntaler UNICEF, while Christoph Koschel on Donnpergnon and Anabel Balkenhol on Dablino were relative newcomers though both the children of distinguished competitors of yesteryear and trainers today.
“We have two experienced team members and two riders on young horses that are very talented and we believe we are competitive as today’s results show,” Isabell said. “If things remain the same, every one is giving the gold at Kentucky to the Dutch but we will hope to receive the silver.”
Just one year ago, the traditionally powerful German team was not expected to even medal at the European Championships in Windsor, though they ended up with bronze. In less than a year, they have emerged again as a powerhouse.
Tina Konyot and Calecto V of the USA placed at the top of the large non-European contingent, finishing in 10th place on 70.333 per cent. For Tina, of North Stonington, Connecticut this European tour of two competitions–Aachen and Fritzens-Schindlhof last month–has been a confirmation of the pair as the second best combination in the United States after Steffen Peters and Ravel who swept this CDIO a year ago following their World Cup championship.
Todd Flettrich and Otto had some costly mistakes but for their only European competition this tour they were happy with the results.
“Otto was confident without tension and, despite the mistakes, it was fantastic to do this well in this company… the best in the world,” Todd said.
Australia’s Brett Parberry on Victory Salute, although not a newcomer to premier international competition, nevertheless produced an unexpected result in this event with 13th place with 69.042 per cent, to make it to the freestyle.
Austria’s Victoria Max-Theurer riding Augustin OLD, returning to top level competition after a schedule-busting colic, produced one of their best finishes ever for fifth place on 74.458 per cent that sparked the best fist pump of the show.
In the team competition that this year as a test of the formula to be used at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, results from both the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special counted.
Those results were: 1. The Netherland2, 2. Germany, 3. Great Britain.
Complete Grand Prix Special scores:
| Rank | HORSE – Breeding sex\colour\born\sire x siredam\ | RIDER owner | EUR | Total Points | Percentage | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moorlands Totilas – S \ Black \ 2000 \ Gribaldi x Glendale | Edward Gal (NED) |  | 2075.00 | 86.458 | ||
| 2 | Jerich Parzival – G \ Chestnut \ 1997 \ Jazz x Ulft | Adelinde Cornelissen (NED) | | 1981.00 | 82.542 | ||
| 3 | Mistral Hojris – G \ Chestnut \ 1995 \ Michellino x Ibsen | Laura Bechtolsheimer (GBR) |  | 1905.00 | 79.375 | ||
| 4 | Satchmo – G \ DarkBay \ 1994 \ Sao Paulo x Legat | Isabell Werth (GER) |  | 1834.00 | 76.417 | ||
| 5 | Augustin OLD – S \ Bay \ 2000 \ August der Starke x Rohdiamant | Victoria Max-Theurer (AUT) |  | 1787.00 | 74.458 | ||
| 6 | Donnperignon – G \ DarkChestnut \ 1999 \ Donnerhall x Mozart II79 | Christoph Koschel (GER) | | 1784.00 | 74.333 | ||
| 7 | Hunter Douglas Sunrise – M \ DarkBay \ 1994 \ Singular Joter x Werther | Imke Schellekens-Bartels (NED) | | 1764.00 | 73.500 | ||
| 8 | Dablino – G \ DarkChestnut \ 2000 \ De Niro x Wanderbursch II | Anabel Balkenhol (GER) | | 1752.00 | 73.000 | ||
| 9 | Sterntaler-Unicef – G \ DarkBay \ 1995 \ Sion x Manstein | Matthias Alexander Rath (GER) | | 1742.00 | 72.583 | ||
| 10 | Calecto V – S \ Bay \ 0 \ Come Back II x Rastell | Tina Konyot (USA) |  | 1688.00 | 70.333 | ||
| 11 | Eremo del Castegno – G \ Bay \ 2001 \ Rohdiamant x Weltmeyer | Valentina Truppa (ITA) |  | 1685.00 | 70.208 | ||
| 12 | Apollo van het Vijverhof – G \ Bay \ 2000 \ Welt Hit II x Ritmeister | Jeroen Devroe (BEL) |  | 1664.00 | 69.333 | ||
| 13 | Victory Salute – G \ Bay \ 1996 \ Salute x | Brett Parbery (AUS) |  | 1657.00 | 69.042 | ||
| 14 | Withney van’t Genthof – S \ Bay \ 1999 \ FERRO x BALZFLUG | Stefan van Ingelgem (BEL) | | 1651.00 | 68.792 | ||
| 15 | Pop Art – G \ Chestnut \ 1997 \ Amsterdam x Cabouchon | Ashley Holzer (CAN) |  | 1650.00 | 68.750 | ||
| 16 | Exquis Clearwater – G \ Bay \ 1998 \ Carpaccio x Limebrand | Anne van Olst (DEN) |  | 1630.00 | 67.917 | ||
| 17 | Elmegardens Marquis – G \ Bay \ 1999 \ Michellino x | Emile Faurie (GBR) | | 1624.00 | 67.667 | ||
| 18 | Florett AS – S \ Black \ 1997 \ Florestan I x Urofino | Patrik Kittel (SWE) |  | 1617.00 | 67.375 | ||
| 18 | Whisper – M \ Chestnut \ 1997 \ Wolkenstein II x Grenadier | Hiroshi Hoketsu (JPN) |  | 1617.00 | 67.375 | ||
| 20 | Anton – G \ DarkBay \ 2000 \ Antaeus x Melit | Belinda Trussell (CAN) | | 1611.00 | 67.125 | ||
| 21 | Otto – G \ Bay \ 0 \ Rambo x Rampal | Todd Flettrich (USA) | | 1605.00 | 66.875 | ||
| 22 | Wie-Atlantico de Ymas – G \ Chestnut \ 1999 \ Wie Weltmeyer x Rondo | Fiona Bigwood (GBR) | | 1597.00 | 66.542 | ||
| 23 | Le Beau – G \ Chestnut \ 1998 \ Le Coeur x Classiker | Philippe Jorissen (BEL) | | 1593.00 | 66.375 | ||
| 24 | Relâmpago do Retiro – S \ Bay \ 1997 \ Luar x Argonauta | Hayley Beresford (AUS) | | 1577.00 | 65.708 | ||
| 25 | G-Nidium – S \ Grey \ 1995 \ Perdiguero II x Pestillo | Rafael Ortiz (ESP) |  | 1555.00 | 64.792 | ||
| 26 | Jade de MV – S \ Grey \ 1999 \ Musico x Neptuno | Claudio Castilla Ruiz (ESP) | | 1538.00 | 64.083 | ||
| 27 | Fogonero IX – S \ Bay \ 1989 \ Judio x | José María Sanchez Cobos (ESP) | | 1519.00 | 63.292 | ||
| 28 | Seduc – G \ Bay \ 1996 \ Induc x | Anne Troensegaard (DEN) | | 1509.00 | 62.875 | ||
| 29 | Leonberg – S \ Bay \ 1994 \ Lonely Boy x Ramiros | Mikala Münter Gundersen (DEN) | | 1485.00 | 61.875 | ||
| 30 | Pikardi – G \ Bay \ 1997 \ Pointmaker x Daimont | Bonny Bonnello (CAN) | | 1454.00 | 60.583 |
