Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) and Valegro Charm The Crowd at the World Dressage Masters, Palm Beach

Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) and Valegro - KWPN by Negro at the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach 2012 - (Photo: Mary Phelps - phelpsphotos.com)

Watch the Video and check out the image gallery. A new dressage superstar hit the enter stage at the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach as the young Charlotte DuJardin and the ten year old KWPN gelding Valegro by Negro owned by Carl Hester and Roly Luard nearly beat the veteran pair, American multiple medalist Steffen Peters with Akiko Yamazaki’s Ravel by the tightest of margins, a .05%. The last to go in the all-star dressage lineup at the magical Masters night, the audience of 2500 in the stands and at the VIP tables was enchanted by the duo from Great Britain, who have only done the freestyle together three times. Dujardin admitted in the press conference which followed, she has yet to add in an additional degree of difficulty, which will come as they progress throughout the 2012 Olympic year, where currently according to globaldressageanalytics.com, Great Britain is favored to win the team gold at the London Olympic Games.

Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) and Valegro - KWPN by Negro at the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach 2012 - (Photo: Mary Phelps - phelpsphotos.com)

With his top horse Utopia in England, Valegro’s co-owner an teammate Carl Hester helped up the ante at the World Dressage Masters, Palm Beach catch riding Wie Atlantico, fellow Brit Fiona Bigwood’s 2010 World Equestrian Games mount finishing fourth in the Freestyle.

With his powerful extensions, expressive canter and correct and classical piaffe/passage tour, Valegro blew the crowd away, who packed the sold out stands in spite of the early disappointment that Germany’s Totilas was unable to attend after an injury sidelined him for the early part of the year.