THE German duo of Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and the fabulous TSF Dalera BB claimed the coveted FEI Dressage World Cup title for the second time in their spectacular career when winning the deciding Freestyle competition at the 2023 series Final in Omaha, USA, last Friday night.

They arrived at the American fixture as firm favourites but looked vulnerable in Wednesday’s Grand Prix when the 16-year-old mare was super-excited to return to competition after a few months’ break. However, Dalera was right back in the zone that saw this superstar partnership scoop all gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and again at the FEI European Championships in 2021 before putting their names on the FEI Dressage World Cup Roll of Honour 12 months ago in Leipzig.

It seemed likely that Wednesday’s Grand Prix result in which von Bredow-Werndl’s compatriot and longtime legend, Isabell Werth, finished second with DSP Qantaz and Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Blue Horse Zepter finished third would be replicated this evening. But the Danish pair produced a spectacular performance to demote five-time series champion Werth to the third step of the podium this time around.

There were a number of withdrawals from the field, including one of the favourites - The Netherlands’ Dinja van Liere, who was widely expected to give von Bredow-Werndl a run for her money with Hermes NOP. They withdrew just before their test on Wednesday. German pair Ingrid Klimke and Franziskus FRH finished fourth in the Grand Prix, but then withdrew from the freestyle due to the stallion taking a “misstep”. The Netherlands’ Marieke van der Putten’s and Tørveslettens Titanium RS2’s withdrawal due to colic meant just 13 started in the final, the smallest field since 2009.

Fourth last into the arena, Werth and DSP Qantaz set the standard when posting 85.671% for a performance that oozed class. The smile on her face showed that 31 years after she first won the prestigious World Cup title, the 53-year-old athlete is enjoying herself as much as ever.

Mesmerising

But then von Bredow-Werndl took the floor, and with mesmerising piaffe/passage, and half-passes in both trot and canter that seemed even more fluent than ever before, they soared out in front when putting a massive 90.482 on the board.

“She was incredible, she went in with no wet hair (sweat) because I didn’t do a lot outside, but she was so wet because of the atmosphere. It was really hot in there and she again was a little bit scared but she trusted me 100%, that was the difference tonight. I was confident and we were mirroring each other, she was confident and I got confident. She was excited but she trusted me from the very first step”, the delighted 37-year-old rider pointed out.

“Dalera is such a special creature to have in my life. She makes everything possible - she is a dream!”

America’s Steffen Peters, series champion in Las Vegas (USA) back in 2009, was second-last to go and, always a crowd-pleaser and especially on home ground, he slotted in behind Werth with a mark of 83.921. Now only Skodborg Merrald and Blue Hors Zepter were left to run, and it seemed the top two places were already decided. But the Danish duo were having none of that.

The chesnut gelding formerly ridden by both her Danish counterpart Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Sweden’s Patrik Kittel is blossoming like never before, even though he is already 15 years old.

“He was really on fire, I had to be so careful all the way around, it was a bit difficult to come back after extended canter but I’m so thrilled! My journey with him has been so short, we have only been together for four months and I have the feeling I can ask for so much more - he is amazing!” she said after posting 87.146 which put her onto the second step of the podium.