Two classes brimming with talent highlighted opening day of the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) Week 5. The Centerline Stables CDI1* Prix St. Georges and Havensafe Farm CDI-W World Cup Grand Prix set the tone in Wellington, FL, which hosts seven weeks of CDI competition running through April 3.

A man who is no stranger to victory, Frederic Wandres (GER) aboard Bluetooth OLD, a 2010 Oldenburg (Bordeaux x Riccione) truly stole the show with their impressive score of 74.913%. A very competitive runner-up score went to France’s Morgan Babançon aboard Bolero scoring a 71.782%, and third went to Ashley Holzer (USA) and Valentine who were not far behind finishing on a score of 71.174%.

While incredibly proud, an ever-humble Wandres admitted that he and Bluetooth OLD still having room for improvement before achieving even more success. “I thought today went much better than the last time CDI here. He was a little more fresh and forward even though the weather is a little bit warmer than last time. There are still many things to develop but overall it was good. He showed consistency in a test like this, and I thought this world cup qualification here was probably the strongest so far, so I’m very happy.

“Sometimes in the arena he can become a little bit shy, and you have to figure out how much pressure you can give him that doesn’t turn in the other direction,” continued Wandres. “It’s about getting self-confidence for him, so that he gets a good feeling. In the end, he has to come out of himself more and more, so that is something we are working on.”

Wandres and Bluetooth OLD focused on technical issues during their 2022 season in Wellington, while now they are focused on levelling up with a little polish to their tests. Thursday’s performance qualified them for the Havensafe Farm FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix Freestyle during ‘Friday Night Stars’.

Alexander Yde Helgstrand Takes the Spotlight at AGDF 5

All eyes were on Denmark’s Alexander Yde Helgstrand and Belantis during the opening class of AGDF 5 on Thursday morning as the dynamic pair won the Centerline Stables CDI1* Prix St. Georges.

An impressive lineup of twenty-six horses and riders came together for the CDI1*. Only three pairs scored in the 70’s, including Amanda Perkowski (USA) and Sontana MF who placed third with a 70.196%, and Charlotte Jorst (USA) scored a 70.392% aboard Zhaplin Langholt. However, the highest score of 72.206%, a personal best score, went to Alexander Yde Helgstrand (DEN) and Belantis, a 2009 DSP gelding, (Benetton Dream Frh 1301 x Expo’se) owned by Helgstrand Dressage USA.

Helgstrand was beyond pleased with his horse’s performance today. They have been a team for about two years and all of their hard work, combined with a strong partnership, seems to be paying off. “Today, some of the highlights came from my trot. I felt like I had a really good trot, which is something we have been working really hard on at home, so I was very pleased to see that come together.”

Although Helgstrand described the canter as his typical ‘best gait’, he confessed that several issues in the day’s test made the execution less than perfect.

“Normally the canter is my best part, but today I had a small mistake in my fours,” he admitted. “That was my own fault completely, my horse was super and I could never fault him. Overall, I think it was a nice test and we definitely learned a lot from it.”