Dressage-News

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida, Mar. 10–Sweden’s Tinne Silfvén & Don Auriello won their third straight CDI Grand Prix Wednesday on the eve of the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach in which a rider from the Dominican Republic and another Canadian were added to the starting lineup.

Don Auriello, a nine-year-old gelding, who was starting in his third CDI at Grand Prix since coming to Florida for the three-month winter circuit, scored 68.723 per cent in the Wellington Classic II 3*. Arlene Page of Wellington on Alina was second with a personal best of 66.149 per cent, Canadian Gary Vander Ploeg on Cezanne was third on on 64.340 per cent and Yvonne Losos de Muniz of the Dominican Republic on Dondolo las Marismas placed fourth on 64.149 per cent.

Tinne was already entered in the CDI5* on Favourit, her World Equestrian Games and European Championship mount, while Arlene “Tuny” Page opted not to compete in the 5* as this was the nine-year-old horse’s third consecutive Grand Prix competition ride in less than a week.

As a result, Gary Vander Ploeg and Yvonne Losos de Muniz were invited to bring the Masters’ starting lineup to 17 combinations from nine countries for the Grand Prix at the Jim Brandon Center Thursday. The Special and Freestyle are scheduled for Friday in a covered arena that has been decorated in a French Provence theme for the €100,000 ((US$139,000) event.

In what will be the final competition in Florida this winter, Tinne said that Don Auriello was a “little too hot” but the horse’s rapid development was “amazing.”

“He is extremely ambitious,” she said.

Now they have decided not to compete Favourit in the World Cup Final in Leipzig, Germany, she plans to take Don Auriello and Favourit to Hagen in Germany the first week of May.

Luoise Nathorst, who was here to work with Tinne, said the horse is “getting better and better each show.”

Tuny Page said of qualifying the 13-year-old Danish warmblood, “It kills me to qualify for a 5* and not do do it. But not to do it is the right thing for the horse. Instead, I will be watching and enjoying my husband’s wine.”

International Polo Club Palm Beach that is the prime sponsor for this WDM, announced the event is a sellout with all 1,200 seats ranging in price from $80 for general admission to $4,000 for a table of eight.

A live webcast of the Grand Prix Special at 1 p.m. ET Friday and the Freestyle at 7:30 p.m. ET Friday will be available on http://www.usefnetwork.com/WDM2011.

Eurosport Events will broadcast highlights from the Grand Prix Freestyle as part of  “Wednesday Selection,” at about 2100 CET April 6.

Starters for the Grand Prix Thursday:

Steffen Peters (USA) – Ravel
Tinne Vilhelmsson Silfven (SWE) – Favourit
Ashley Holzer (CAN) – Pop Art
Tina Konyot (USA) – Calecto V
Michal Rapcewicz (POL) – Randon
Valentina Truppa (ITA) – Chablis
Anja Plönzke (GER) – Le Mont d’Or
Christa Laarakkers (NED) – Ovation
Anne Van Olst (DEN) – Exquis Clearwater
Todd Fletrich (USA) – Otto
Pierre St Jacques (USA) – Lucky Tiger
Jacqueline Brooks (CAN) – Gran Gesto
Shannon Dueck (CAN) – Ayscha
Shawna Harding (USA) – Come On III
Elisabeth Austin (USA) – Olivier
Yvonne Losos de Muñiz (DOM) – Dondolo Las Marismas
Gary Vander Ploeg (CAN) – Cezanne