Saturday April 3, 2004

Anky van Grunsven Sets the Tone At the 2004 World Cup Finals

In the absence of Ulla Salzgeber and Debbie McDonald, Dutch dressage diva Anky van Grunsven has been given free reign to win the 2004 World Cup Dressage Finals. Aboard the Hanoverian gelding Gestion Salinero (by Salieri), Van Grunsven has already proved to be undefeatable in the Western League World Cup qualifiers, but at the Finals in Dusseldorf this weekend, she has shown to be wielding the axe of power over any dressage rider in the world.

With only German Heike Kemmer able to put a breeze of competition in Anky's neck, Van Grunsven decided to play it safe by riding a very expressive and correct Grand Prix test on Friday April 2, 2004. Although the Grand Prix does not count for the Finals, it is a very good barometer to predict the winner of the freestyle. Van Grunsven scored 75.791% with a test that was brimming with elegance and power. The piaffe-passage tour was very engaged, the lateral trotwork breath-taking, and the pirouettes were the highlights of the test. Unfortunately tension dominated the canter work, causing the tempi's every single stride to be hectic.

Heike Kemmer finished second on her chestnut Hanoverian Bonaparte (by Bon Bonaparte). Bonaparte was relaxed and on the job. His piaffe passage tour is not as spectacular and electric as Salinero's, but is correct in the classical way, and it flatters the eye. Bonaparte showed nice extensions and lovely pirouettes. The judges gave the pair 74.875%.

Finishing third was Dutch shooting star Edward Gal aboard Gestion Lingh (by Flemmingh). Lingh shows much self-carriage in the piaffe and passage, but he lost impulsion in the final piaffe on the centerline at X. The flying changes could have been a bit straighter and the extended trot needed more engagement from behind, though Lingh shows spectacular scope and freedom in the shoulder.