Charlotte Dujardin won her fourth consecutive FEI World Cup Grand Prix at the London International Horse Show at Olympia today – partnering Uthopia to victory with 77.460%.
Number one
The world number one – who is the reigning world, European and Olympic champion – was first into the arena in tonight’s competition, which acts as a qualifier for tomorrow’s Grand Prix Freestyle.
But she wasn’t on board her record breaking partner Valegro, who is making limited appearances in the run up to Rio 2016. Instead, she rode her trainer Carl Hester’s former Olympic ride Uthopia, whom she hasn’t competed since Windsor 2014. Despite this, they once again impressed as a partnership to lead the class from start to finish.
“He isn’t a horse I’ve competed very much, and he hasn’t been out for nearly two years,” said Charlotte. “But I had a really good ride. It’s a big show to come to with a huge atmosphere but he coped very well.”
She said she was very happy with the test aside from one small blip, where she made her left pirouette too small and the stallion changed behind.
The pair will now start favourite for Wednesday’s Reem Acra FEI World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle.
Mentor
In second place, close behind Charlotte, was her mentor and trainer Carl Hester on his European silver medal winning ride Nip Tuck. The pair scored76.660% to finish less than one percent in arrears.
“I had a few tiny mistakes which kept me that percent behind Charlotte but Uthopia is a seasoned gold medallist, he’s won individual medals, so it was great to see him back at the top and in the limelight,” said Carl – who of course rode Uthopia to Olympic and European medal success.
But Carl is very much aiming to reverse the results in the Freestyle. “I’ve got a fantastic new freestyle by Tom Hunt that I’m debuting tomorrow. I was out to beat Charlotte tonight so it was slightly irritating! But of course Uthiopia is my horse and I’m delighted he won, and I want people to see Charlotte ride different horses as it showcases her talent, she doesn’t just ride one horse.”
The 11-year-old Nip Tuck gave Carl a ‘fantastic ride’. “A year ago the horse did his first World Cup here and he was very green – this time he felt like a different horse. He’s the biggest horse in the competition, at over 18hh, and he’s sensitive so this is a big thing for him but he handled himself brilliantly,” Carl added.
The Netherland’s Hans Peter Minderhoud was the penultimate rider to go, and posed a real threat to British hopes with his Stockholm winner Glock’s Flirt. However, a final score of76.120% put the pair in third place.
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