Spanish - Italian opening at the Dressage World Cup at San Patrignano

Beatriz Ferrer-Salat

The Spanish Beatriz Ferrer-Salat, the 36-year-old lady rider who is lately in best shape in the world of dressage, wins the opening competition of the Italian qualifier of the FEI World Cup Dressage taking place at San Patrignano. The Spanish athlete, who recently placed first in the Mechelen Grand Prix in Belgium, won on Beauvalais with a very high percentage (71.46%), preceding the Italian Laura Conz (69.80%), riding Fibrin and the Swiss champion Daniel Ramseier currently 2nd in the World Cup list, on Rali Baba a bay 14-year-old horse. Fourth and fifth places for other two top international lady riders, the Dutch Gonnelien Rothenberger and the Russian Elena Sydneva, respectively 8th and 12th in the FEI/BCM ranking list.

Great has been the satisfaction within the Italian team for the surprising placement of the Italian National Champion, Laura Conz (title won right here in San Patrignano last November), who has been able with great authority to place herself among the best riders of the international dressage scene. "It is a very important result" Conz declares "because it confirms the raising level of my horse which is already able to compete at the top level". For the Spanish Ferrer-Salat it is a further evidence of the very high level of performances achieved on the last month, which placed her at the very top of the world ranking list, and a confirmation of her optimistic foreseen of the day before. "Me and my horse are experiencing a great moment of shape and I hope I will be able to raise up the podium of the Grand Prix".

The competition was indeed a valid trial for the qualification to the Free Style competition which will assign on Sunday, the points for the World Cup, and to which the first 12 placed in today's competition will be admitted.

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