The dressage WBCYH concluded with a surprising class, as no champion is crowned before the very last ride and the day is over. In 2022, Global Player OLD (Grand Galaxy Win T x Don Schufro, Breeder Henrik Hansen) produced a gold medal winning performance with Eva Möller, beating last year’s five-year-old champion and winner of the qualifier, Hesselhoej Down Town (Donkey Boy x Boogiewoogie, breeder Dorthe and Hans Jørgen Hoeck, Denmark). It was a double celebration for Helgstrand who owns both horses.
Last year, as a five-year-old, Grand Galaxy son Global Player finished fourth, and today produced a breathtaking trot, as well as an amazingly engaged hind end: Trot 9.8, walk 9.5, canter 9.5, and twice awarded 10.0 for submission and perspective. The total of 9.76 was higher than Hesselhoej Down Town's 9.3 with Jeanna Hogberg.
Jeanna explained that shortly before she entered the ring the stallion had been distracted by the audience which made her ride less expressive than the qualifying round. This silver medal was a farewell ride for Jeanna, who will now return to Sweden and is delighted to have been able to ride and train Hesselhoej Down Town.
The story behind the bronze medal is also quite amazing for the KWPN-bred stallion Lennox U.S. (Grand Galaxy Win - Herarona elite pref IBOP D-OC x Rousseau, breeder B. Wilschut). So two Grand Galaxy U.S. sons in the top three. Lennox's dam is a full sister to Blue Hors Zack, and is owned by Joop van Uytert together with the breeder and Paul Schockemöhle.
Claartje van Andel
