2004 World Cup Finals

Anky van Grunsven "Sehr Zufrieden" With Sixth World Cup Title

April 4, 2004

Riding an astonishing kur to music in the Philipshalle in Dusseldorf, Germany, Anky van Grunsven has won her sixth World Cup title in her career. This unprecedented achievement has virtually transformed Van Grunsven into a living legend and a true hall of fame personality in the dressage world.

The 2004 World Cup Finals produced no surprises and although the small indoor arena in Dusseldorf created a very intimate atmosphere between rider, horse, judge, and spectator, no-one really experienced an emotional cathartic climax at the end of the freestyle class. Though wonderful kurs were ridden today, the goose bump factor was lamentably absent today and a true exciting, teeth grinding competitive duel between two top riders did not take place. I guess, we'll have to wait either till the CDIO Aachen or the Olympic Games in Athens to be really sitting on the edge of your seat. The 2004 World Cup Finals today were just another beautiful day in la la dressage land. But of course, Anky winning the title should not be taken for granted. The Dutch diva from Erp, The Netherlands, worked really hard to climb out of her 2003 pit of misery, which was filled with human and equine injuries.

Anky van Grunsven deserved the 2004 World Cup title and nobody will deny that. Riding her Hanoverian Gestion Salinero (Salieri x Lungau), Van Grunsven shifted into fifth gear today. While Salinero verged on a 1 Megaton explosion in his Friday Grand Prix test, today the horse was much more relaxed and happy in his work. Riding her "L'Esprit de la Chanson" freestyle, which is based on French chansons, Van Grunsven demonstrated brilliant piaffe-passage reprises, for which she received 9's from most of the judges. Only at the beginning of the tempi's, Salinero tensed up again and pushed the croup high in his eagerness to perform. Nevertheless, it was a beautiful ride which was royally scored 83.450%.

"Ich bin sehr zufrieden," Anky said at the press conference, meaning "I'm very pleased," because "this was the best freestyle I have ever ridden with Salinero." With her 83% score, Van Grunsven has opened the door for an individual medal at the Olympic Games this year. "I haven't been planning ahead," Anky confessed. "I have only been thinking to this day. Now I can start thinking about the next months." Anky will try to qualify both Salinero and Krack C (who was recently injured) for the Dutch Olympic team. "Last year taught me how difficult it is just to bet on one horse and to keep it sound."

Van Grunsven experienced double pleasure in Dusseldorf as her student Edward Gal finished second on the elegant Gestion Lingh. With a very clean and correct test on the most exhilarating music of the day (Gregorian, techno and Indian themes combined!), Gal made his World Cup Finals debut with a second place and a 80.625% score. "Lingh is such a great horse. He's very willing and is always a pleasure to ride," Gal sighed. Although Gal has become Holland's second best rider of the moment, his future with Lingh is unclear. The KWPN stallion by Flemmingh will be for sale after the Olympic Games, so the combination might die a painful death after Athens. "We are trying to get a syndicate together so that the horse can stay with me," Gal stated. "Our performance today will hopefully stimulate people to invest in this horse."

Judge at C, Dr Volker Moritz, explained the three percent point difference between Van Grunsven and Gal as following: "The difference between the two combinations is smaller on the technical level than the artistic one. Lingh does not have such a powerful extended walk, but is much more relaxed and willing than Salinero. On an artistic level, Anky's test shows more creativity and overall Salinero has a bit more power. He's more "breathtaking"."

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