Spain's Beatriz Ferrer-Salat Wins Grand Prix Speciale

Beatriz Ferrer-Salat (ESP) & Beauvalais

Even in the elite world of dressage things can change. Not a German winner in the Grand Prix Special on Friday, but the home crowd roared as Spanish rider Beatriz Ferrer-Salat took out the second round of the Individual Dressage Championship. Ferrer-Salat and her lovely bay Hanoverian Beauvalais were last to enter the arena for the Grand Prix Special and put up the best performance of the day scoring 77 per cent. Following the first two rounds of the Individual Dressage Championship Beatriz is in second position on 151.56 per cent.

"The test was nice and the horse went really well – I risked everything to win.” said Ferrer-Salat of her ride.

And with the Grand Prix Freestyle coming up the next day, Ferrer-Salat hopes that everything will continue to work well. “After the win today, I would like to remain in the top three. I have kept my music the same as used in my World Cup Qualifiers this year – modern with a Spanish flavour.”

United States rider Debbie McDonald riding Brentina was second in the Grand Prix Special on 76.12 per cent. She moves into third position overall. German Nadine Capellmann placed third in the Grand Prix Special riding Farbenfroh with 75.88 per cent. Capellmann still leads the overall competition on 153.84 per cent and is still a favourite for the Individual Gold medal.

Today's second place finish was extra special for McDonald. "“Today is the 55th wedding anniversary for the owners of my horse, Brentina, so they are extra excited – what a lovely present for them. After I made a huge mistake on my first extended trot and broke into canter, I thought that was it but then I decided to grit my teeth and go on. I can’t believe I’m sitting here!”

Lisa Wilcox (USA) finished fourth riding Relevant on 74.40 per cent and favourite coming into today’s Ulla Salzgeber riding Rusty placed fifth on 74.12 per cent. Ulla and Rusty are in fifth position overall on 149.76 per cent. And although Wilcox is happy that she is still in a strong position going into the Freestyle, she isn't pleased with the way today's test rode.

“I am really disgusted with myself,” explained Wilcox. “Relevant was brilliant and was everything I expected, if not more. We have a really beautiful Freestyle though, so we’ll see.”

Shannon Dueck & Korona

Canada's sole entry in the Grand Prix Speciale, Shannon Dueck & Korona, placed 25th with a score of 59.600%. Although this was not quite as good a test that they put in for the Grand Prix, the pair did their country proud by making it into the elite top 25 in the world.

Germany, the Team World Champions, had four riders in the top eight placings on Friday. Ann Kathrin Lisenhoff will miss out on the Grand Prix Freestyle as under FEI rules only three riders from one nation can move on into the Grand Prix Freestyle.

GRAND PRIX SPECIALE RESULTS
1. BEATRIZ FERRER-SALAT ESP BEAUVALAIS 77.000%
2. DEBBIE MCDONALD USA BRENTINA 76.120%
3. NADINE CAPELLMANN GER FARBENFROH 75.880%
4. LISA WILCOX USA RELEVANT 75.680%
5. ULLA SALZGEBER GER RUSTY 74.120%
6. KLAUS HUSENBETH GER PICCOLINO 73.520%
6. LARS PETERSEN DEN BLUE HORS CAVAN 73.520%
8. ANN-KATHRIN LINSENHOFF GER RENOIR-UNICEF 73.400%
9. SUSAN BLINKS USA FLIM FLAM 73.240 %
10. LONE JORGENSEN DEN FBW KENNEDY 73.200%
11. RAFAEL SOTO ANDRADE ESP INVASOR 73.040%
12. ANKY VAN GRUNSVEN NED GESTION KRACK C 71.800%
13. JAN BRINK SWE BJORSELLS BRIAR 70.560%
14. GONNELIEN ROTHENBERGER NED JONGGOR´S WEYDEN 69.880%
15. ELENA SIDNEVA RUS ARTAX CONDOR RBB 69.760%
16. COBY VAN BAALEN NED OLYMPIC FERRO 69.640%
17. GUENTER SEIDEL USA NIKOLAUS 7 69.600%
18. DANIEL RAMSEIER SUI RALI BABA 68.680%
19. IGNACIO RAMBLA ALGARIN ESP GRANADERO 68.240%
20. CHRISTIAN PLAGE SUI REGENT 67.800%
20. FRANCOISE CANTAMESSA SUI ALBFUEHREN´S LAUDATIO 67.800%
22. JON D. PEDERSEN DEN ESPIRIT DE VALDEMAR 67.640 %
23. JUAN ANTONIO JIMENEZ ESP COBO GUIZO 66.680%
24. TINNE WILHELMSSON SWE SOLOS CAREX DVH 65.640 %
25. SHANNON DUECK CAN KORONA 59.600%