Frederic Wandres Connects for Win in Five-Star Freestyle in AGDF 7

The week seven’s “Friday Night Stars” showcase at the 2022 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, FL, on Friday, February 25, 2022, was hosted in the spectacular International Arena at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC), home to the Winter Equestrian Festival. AGDF, which hosts seven weeks of CDI competition, runs through March 27.

German rider Frederic Wandres capitalized on his already lucrative season, winning the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI5*, presented by CaptiveOne Advisors, on Bluetooth OLD with 81.165%. Laurence Vanommeslaghe (BEL) filled second with an energetic performance on Edison (79.430%) and Spain’s Juan Matute Guimón finished third on Quantico (78.925%).

Photo - Frederic Wandres and Bluetooth OLD pull off another classy performance — finishing their test one-handed — to lead the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI5* at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. (©susanjstickle.com)

Click to watch Frederic Wandres’ winning ride.

“Bluetooth is getting better and better,” said Wandres of the 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Bordeaux. “I get more and more the feeling that I can ride during the test, and he offers me a very good feeling. I’m super happy about his development here in the Wellington season. For him the season is finished now, and he has a few more weeks here to rest a little bit and enjoy the Florida sun before he goes home. Then we are looking forward and trying to take these things which we achieved and developed here together with us to Europe.

An Incredible Feeling

“This is an incredible feeling,” he continued. “As a rider you know that it must have been not bad when the crowd is already clapping on the last centerline, and it always also pushes the horse a little bit more to shine. Bluetooth is a very elegant and completely happy horse. When I started to ride him one year ago, he was a very shy horse and was not able to bring what I had in the warmup into the arena. It’s something that we have created better now.”
LaurenceVanommeslaghe.Edison.2GM74451©SusanJStickle.com.
Laurence Vanommeslaghe (BEL) continues her breakout season with Edison by Glock’s Johnson TN, finishing second with a personal best of 79.43%. ©susanjstickle.com

Second-placed Vanommeslaghe was pleased with her conclusion to the five-star week with Edison, the 13-year-old KWPN gelding by Glock’s Johnson TN that she rode to a freestyle victory at AGDF 5.

“Several things that were a weakness in the grand prix, I tried to correct tonight,” she explained. “I’m really happy that it ended better than it began. The feeling was really lovely with a better frame. I’m very proud, because the riders were very competitive. Almost all of them are in the top 50 best riders in the world, and I’m a nobody — an amateur rider.”
JuanMatuteGuimon.Quantico.2GM74769©SusanJStickle.com.
Spain’s Juan Matute Guimón claims third with his long-time partner Quantico, scoring 78.925%. ©susanjstickle.com

Third-placed Matute Guimón relished the opportunity to ride in the atmospheric jumping arena with Quantico, his 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games mount, as well as in the class with his sister Paula.

“My experience was phenomenal,” he enthused. “I really enjoyed riding at WEF — that is something that I always dreamed of. Quantico is getting better and better, and he is allowing me to enjoy every step. There were no big mistakes, and I was really pleased with his attitude, with the frame; everything was pretty good. I’m very proud.”

A Change of Venue

AGDF Director of Sport Thomas Baur said: “I always wanted to have a change of venue so that the horses see something different, so I’m really happy. I say a big thank you to Andreas Helgstrand who made it finally happen, and also to David Burton, who runs the jumping operation here. Also thank you to Anthony D’Ambrosio who is the course designer this week. They were extremely helpful and made this happen for us.”

Dressage resumes on Saturday, February 26, headlined by the Grand Prix Special CDI3*, sponsored by Fair Sky Farm. The day also includes small tour classes, an under-25 grand prix, young riders, juniors and young horse classes. For more information and results, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Final Results: Grand Prix Freestyle CDI5*, presented by CaptiveOne Advisors
E, Hans Voser (SUI); H, Evi Eisenhardt (GER); C, Katrina Wüst (GER); M, Monique Peutz-Vegter (NED); B, Elisabeth Max-Theurer (AUT)

1. Frederic Wandres (GER) on Bluetooth OLD, Elena Knyaginicheva & Sergey Knyaginichev’s 12yo Oldenburg gelding by Bordeaux: 80.95, 80.425, 82.175, 80.575, 81.7, 81.165

2. Laurence Vanommeslaghe (BEL) on Edison, Fiechter Quality Dressage Horse BVBA’s 13yo KWPN gelding by Glock’s Johnson TN: 79.725, 78.6, 81.35, 80.1, 77.375, 79.43

3. Juan Matute Guimón (ESP) on Quantico, Juan Matute Azpitarte’s 16yo Hanoverian gelding by Fighting Fit: 79.625, 78.875, 79.775, 78.7, 77.65, 78.925

4. Charlotte Jorst (USA) on Kastel’s Nintendo, Kastel Denmark’s 19yo KWPN stallion by Negro: 77.825, 78, 78.95, 78.375, 76.325, 77.895

5. Benjamin Ebeling (USA) on Illuster Van De Kampert, ACR Enterprises Inc.’s 14yo Belgian Warmblood gelding by Spielberg: 79.425, 76.425, 77.35, 75.875, 78.4, 77.495

6. Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu (CAN) on All In, her own & Marc-Andre Beaulieu’s 17yo KWPN gelding by Tango: 77.75, 75.95, 79.625, 77.1, 76.325, 77.35

7. Susan Pape (GBR) on Harmony’s Eclectisch, Harmony Amateur Sports Foundation & Susan Pape’s 13yo KWPN stallion by Zenon: 74.1, 73.15, 74.45, 74.05, 71, 73.35

8. Jennifer Williams (USA) on Millione, Millione Partners’s Danish Warmblood gelding by Milan: 74.075, 70.75, 73.7, 72.075, 74.35, 72.99

9. Naima Moreira Laliberte (CAN) on Statesman, KML Inc.’s 15yo Hanoverian gelding by Sandro Hit: 70.15, 70.775, 73.575, 70.75, 73.7, 71.79

10. Yvonne Losos de Muñiz (DOM) on Aquamarijn, her own & Sylvia Ines Muñiz Losos’s 17yo KWPN mare by United: 72.125, 71.575, 71.875, 71.275, 70.525, 71.475