Dressage-News

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

FRANKFURT, Germany, Dec. 18–Valentina Truppa rode her spectacular Eremo del Castegno to victory in the Grand Prix Freestyle Sunday to become the first Italian ever to win a Western European World Cup event.

The 24-year-old Valentina won the fifth of eight legs in the World Cup Western European League (WEL), scoring 79.950 per cent. The pair won in the Central European League earlier this year.

Germans Monica TTheodorscu on Whisper, now fully recovered from almost a year off with an injury, was second on 78.200 per cent and Dorothee Schneider on Diva Royal third on 77.025 per cent.

Fourth place for Sweden’s Patrik Kittel on Toy Story with 76.375 per cent elevated him to the top of the WEL standings for the World Cup Final to be held in ‘s-Hertgenbosch, The Netherlands, in mid-April.

As a result of the win on the 10-year-old UNIRE gelding (Rhodiamant x Weltgirl x Weltmeyer), Valentina moved into second place in the WEL standings with 53 points, one point behind Patrik Kittel and one ahead of Tinne Vilhelmsson-Silfven, also of Sweden.

Valentine won the Young Rider World Cup at this same Festhallen three years in a row, 2006-2008.

“This a lucky place for me to compete,” she laughed after her win Sunday against a strong German contingent that also included Isabell Werth on Don Johnson who had won the Grand Prix on Saturday. They came sixth with 74.100 per cent on Sunday.

“I did not believe when I came here that I could win, although I know my horse can be very good and powerful and we had good results in Stuttgart recently.”

In addition to seeking a start in the World Cup Final, she is also seeking to qualify as an individual in the Olympics with Eremo del Castegna, an Italian-bred horse the family bought at age six months.

“It is the only for us,” she said, “to buy young horses and train them to the top. I have two other younger horses that we also bought as six month old horses, including a five year-old who is Eremo’s brother.”

Valentina also explained the uniform she wears in all international competitions–it is that of the .Carabinieri, the Italian Army police. Two dressage riders and one three-day eventer wear the uniform.

Monica Theodorescu said that despite success with Whisper since his return to competition that has placed them seventh in the WEL rankings, she will not pursue competing in the Final.

After consulting with the German national coaches, she decided to focus on qualifying for the Olympics as she has only the one horse and has been restored to the German  national squad.

The summer Olympics in London, “should be the first and principal goal. I am really sorry because I love the World Cup but I have to take care of my horse.”

Rankings in the World Cup Western European League after 5 of 8 competitions:
1. Patrick Kittel (Sweden) 54 Points
2. Valentina Truppa (Italy) 53
3. Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven (Sweden) 52
4. Hans Peter Minderhoud (Netherlands) 44
5. Isabell Werth (Germany) 43
6. Richard Davison (Great Britain) 38
7. Monica Theodorescu (Germany) 32
8. Helen Langehanenberg (Germany) 30