Stuttgart – Suspense and expectation were almost tangible. Spectators and media representatives alike had looked forward excitedly to the first appearance of dressage’s new “dream couple” at the 25th International STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS Horse Show. And the double European Champion Edward Gal (NED) on his 9-year-old black stallion Moorlands Totilas did not disappoint. The duo comfortably won the Grand Prix for the Prize of the Ingenieurbüro Hauser, which was also the qualifying competition for the freestyle competition on Saturday evening, after scoring 79.021 per cent.
“It was a great performance even though Gal was riding his Totilas with the handbrake on,” enthused horse show director Gotthilf Riexinger. “It was so very pleasing to see the spectators acknowledging the Dutch rider with lots of applause.”
Behind Gal in second was Anabel Balkenhol (Germany) who presented the 12-year-old gelding Rubins Royal. They were awarded 69.319 per cent by the judges. The Belgian Jeroen Devroe saddled the 9-year-old Apollo van het Vijverhof to a score of 68.596 per cent.
The top ten pairs in today’s class are now qualified for the freestyle class on Saturday evening.
