Edward Gal Invincible in Freestyle at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage in Odense

Edward Gal and Glock's undercover Reign Supreme in the Grand Prix Freestyle

Three worldclass riders made it to the top in the first leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage in Odense, Denmark. Edward Gal and Glock's Undercover were invincible today and won with a score of 88.6%. By winning the qualifier yesterday Edward Gal and Glock's Undercover showed that they were in Odense in fantastic shape. Gal and his black gelding danced their way through their beautiful freestyle and the audience cheered the pair when they finished their ride. There was no doubt that this was the winning performance. At the press conference Edward Gal said that he very much appreciates the enthusiastic audience in Denmark – but also that one of the reasons why he hasn't ridden Undercover in Odense before is that the gelding used to get quite nervous and tense about the clapping and the happy atmosphere from a crowd. But this weekend Undercovers has been completely relaxed and comfortable.

On his ride in the Freestyle, Gal said that he had hoped to do as well as in yesterday's Grand Prix and that he succeeded in this although Undercover briefly was a litte more tense today.

Placed as number two was yet another crowd favourite and yet another Dutch; Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival. As always Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival delivered a super ride, and the judges rewarded her with a score of 84.3%.

"He fully met my expectations today and I am super satisfied with him," Cornelissen said about Jerich Parzival and added that even though Jerich Parzival is 17 years of age he stille feels like he is 7 sometimes!

Number three with a score of 80.3% was Isabell Werth and Don Johnson. In yesterday's Grand Prix the pair finished out of the top three and today she had decided to change that - which she did.

“I'm very with our performance today. Don Johnson was a little tense in the beginning today, but I managed to calm him down and he did really well. It was a really good start of the World Cup season,” she told on the following press conference.

Best Danish rider today was Agnete Kirk Thinggaard on Jo Jo AZ. The par had their World Cup debut in the western-european league this weekend on home ground. With a score of almost 75% and a placing as number six she an Jo Jo Az fully met with expectations - and the home crowd was thrilled to see a Danish rider do so well! 

"It was abslolutely amazing riding in there. The crowd cheered and Jo Jo and I just had a a lot of fun! I'm so happy to be able to do so well amongst such a strong group of riders like this one,” Agnete said. She and Jo Jo Az will aim the World Cup in Lyon next.

Grand Prix Freestyle Results