Dec. 21, 2025
Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus posted their first score above 90% to win the coveted world’s best 12 title with a victory in the €300,000/US$350,000 Grand Prix Freestyle Sunday.
Justin, whose Big Tour competition experience with his nine-year-old stallion Zonik Plus is barely a year on and ranked No. 1 in the world, was awarded 91.195% for the win in the packed hall at the traditional Christmas event and two days after capturing the Grand Prix.
Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour on the 16-year-old Mount St. John Freestyle was not far behind on 91.085%, that was lower than her highest mark of 91.140% set 10 months ago.
Isabell Werth, by far the most successful equestrian of any Olympic discipline in history as well as team gold medalist on Wendy de Fontaine at the 2024 Olympics and this year’s European Championships, placed third on 87.165%.
The results in. this special CDI5* event wraps up the Belgian rider’s first year at Big Tour in which he claimed Dressage Champion in July at Aachen, Germany, the world’s most prestigious equestrian event as well as at the European Championships less than two months later.
Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour placed first in the team competitions at both the 2024 Olympics and the 2025 Europeans to lead Denmark to silver in Paris and bronze at the Europeans in Crozet, France.
The competition was missing from the top British riders who were at home supporting the London International Horse Show World Cup qualifier where Charlotte “Lottie” Fry on her reigning champion Glamourdale won the Freestyle with Becky Moody on her home-bred Jagerbomb second and also included Charlotte Dujardin on Alive and Kicking.
Results:
| Rank | Competitor | Score | E | H | C | M | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |
Justin Verboomen (BEL)
Zonik Plus
|
91.195% | 90.550 | 90.725 | 92.725 | 90.050 | 91.925 |
| 2. |
Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour (DEN)
Mount St John Freestyle
|
91.085% | 89.250 | 91.200 | 91.300 | 91.100 | 92.575 |
| 3. |
Isabell Werth (GER)
Wendy de Fontaine
|
87.165% | 85.875 | 86.700 | 89.250 | 86.550 | 87.450 |
| 4. |
Frederic Wandres (GER)
Bluetooth OLD
|
84.495% | 83.150 | 83.000 | 86.500 | 83.275 | 86.550 |
| 5. |
Sandra Sysojeva (POL)
Maxima Bella
|
81.660% | 82.825 | 81.350 | 83.175 | 82.950 | 78.000 |
| 6. |
Patrik Kittel (SWE)
Touchdown
|
80.670% | 80.550 | 80.850 | 82.025 | 81.250 | 78.675 |
| 7. |
Semmieke Rothenberger (GER)
Farrington
|
79.895% | 76.125 | 80.825 | 80.350 | 80.675 | 81.500 |
| 8. |
Larissa Pauluis (BEL)
Flambeau
|
79.670% | 79.675 | 79.775 | 79.075 | 79.775 | 80.050 |
| 9. |
Maria von Essen (SWE)
Invoice
|
78.390% | 78.150 | 77.700 | 77.950 | 79.675 | 78.475 |
| 10. |
Dinja Van Liere (NED)
Imposantos
|
77.300% | 78.125 | 77.925 | 77.675 | 78.100 | 74.675 |
| 11. |
Ingrid Klimke (GER)
First Class 92
|
76.360% | 75.225 | 76.400 | 77.950 | 76.650 | 75.575 |
 Find details on Equestrian Hub |
