Denmark’s Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour delivered a remarkable performance at the FEI Dressage World Cup competition in Gothenburg, achieving the highest score of the season with her talented mare, Mount St John Freestyle. Their outstanding ride secured a decisive victory in the Scandinavium arena and concluded the event on a memorable note.
With a score of 91.140 percent in the Freestyle, the pair produced the strongest mark seen in the FEI Dressage World Cup season so far. Their performance placed them clearly ahead of the field and confirmed their strong form during this stage of the competition.
A Dominant Performance In Gothenburg
Throughout the weekend, Laudrup-Dufour and Mount St John Freestyle established themselves as the clear leaders. The pair had already taken a commanding lead during the Grand Prix, finishing more than ten percentage points ahead of their rivals. They maintained their advantage in the Freestyle, where their final score placed them approximately eight percent ahead of the nearest competitor.
Entering the arena as the final combination of the evening and the clear favourite for victory, the Danish rider produced a refined and powerful test. The performance featured expressive piaffe and passage work while maintaining both power and relaxation throughout the routine.
The audience in Gothenburg showed strong enthusiasm, cheering even before the Freestyle began. Laudrup-Dufour later noted that the lively atmosphere brought a sense of excitement but also required a focused approach to deliver the performance successfully. She described her mare as a natural show performer and explained that their partnership continues to grow stronger as trust between horse and rider develops.
Top Riders Achieve Personal Bests
The competition in Gothenburg proved highly competitive, with the top three riders all achieving personal best scores. Sweden’s Maria von Essen secured second place with Invoice, delivering a strong performance in front of the home crowd. France’s Corentin Pottier followed in third place with Gotilas du Feuillard, also achieving a personal best result.
Earlier in the competition, several other combinations delivered notable performances. Domien Michiels and Intermezzo van het Meerdaalhof, winners of the Gothenburg World Cup leg the previous year, produced a technically accurate Freestyle to finish seventh with a score of 77.430 percent.
The event also featured a memorable weekend for French riders Camille Judet Cheret and Corentin Pottier, who competed in Gothenburg after travelling from another recent competition in Neumünster. Judet Cheret finished ninth with Herelja Higgins, while Pottier celebrated his second consecutive personal best with Gotilas du Feuillard.
Strong Competition Throughout The Field
The Freestyle class included several impressive performances from experienced riders. Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Blue Hors Znickers produced an energetic test to secure fifth place with 79.270 percent. Their result followed a more challenging Grand Prix in which difficulties appeared during the piaffe.
Germany’s Dorothee Schneider rode First Romance with a strong trot tour in the Freestyle, although a minor mistake during the two-tempi changes prevented a higher placing. The pair finished with a score of 79.095 percent.
Bianca Nowag-Aulenbrock also impressed with Florine OLD, presenting a harmonious performance with excellent contact throughout the test. Their result of 80.450 percent marked a personal best, although it was just short of the podium positions.
Home Crowd Celebrates Maria Von Essen
One of the highlights of the evening came when Sweden’s Maria von Essen entered the arena as the penultimate competitor with Invoice. The horse showed particular strength in the highly collected movements, including piaffe and pirouettes, which carry additional scoring weight in the Freestyle.
The performance delighted the home audience and secured second place. Von Essen described the experience of riding in front of her supporters as especially meaningful, noting the presence of her trainers and family in the crowd.
Focus Turns To Future Championships
Despite the outstanding results achieved during the World Cup season, Laudrup-Dufour indicated that she does not intend to compete at the FEI Dressage World Cup Final. She explained that the Gothenburg competition was only her second World Cup appearance of the season and that the next qualifier in ’s-Hertogenbosch comes too soon.
Instead, the Danish rider intends to focus on preparing for the European Championships later in the summer.
The FEI Dressage World Cup season now moves towards its concluding stage, with the final qualifier scheduled to take place in ’s-Hertogenbosch in March. Riders will compete there for the remaining places in the Final.
The FEI Dressage World Cup event in Gothenburg concluded with an impressive display of dressage excellence, highlighted by Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour’s season-leading score with Mount St John Freestyle. Her commanding performance reinforced the strength of their partnership and provided one of the most memorable moments of the current FEI Dressage World Cup season.
Do write and share your reflections upon this matter, particularly on the remarkable achievement of Laudrup-Dufour and the season’s top score in Gothenburg.
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