The fourth day of competition at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) concluded today with a win for Shelly Francis (USA) and Doktor in the FEI Grand Prix Special CDI-W, presented by The Axel Johnson Group. Competition at AGDF 7 concludes tomorrowwith the FEI Intermediaire I Freestyle, presented by Engel & Völkers. Francis and Doktor won the class with a 73.373%, narrowly edging fellow American Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet who finished in second place with a 73.137%. Kelly Layne (AUS) and Udon P earned a 70.157% for third place. Shelly Francis and Doktor, owned by Patricia Stempel, have consistently placed amongst the top three for the past two seasons at AGDF and have always seemed to fall just short of the victory gallop, but today, the duo wowed the judging panel as the final ride in the class, just nudging Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet to second place. “In a funny way I’m not always sure what feels good. I kept thinking about what Robert [Dover] said to me before I went in about the half halts. When he got a little bit strong I was trying to just really sit in there,” said Francis. “He really put out effort for me today and he felt like he was going nice and steady. There were no real hiccups in the rhythm anywhere, from what I felt.” The duo finished one of their most fluid and harmonious tests, as Francis rode with a bit more contact in the bridle than she typically asks for from the 2003 Hanoverian gelding (Diamond Hit x Gurena). Perry-Glass and “Dublet” continue to add top place finishes to their incredibly successful campaign in Large Tour competition this season. “I was pleased with the last center line with the passage to piaffe to passage,” said Perry-Glass. “I think he was a little bit tired through the test today. He didn’t have as much energy as I was planning on having, but that’s a learning experience for both of us in our first year at this level, just learning how much to school him during the show and everything.” As the pair still continues to learn and understand what their best preparations are during competition weeks at the Grand Prix level, Perry-Glass had nothing but praise for “Dublet” on the gelding’s growth in both confidence and stature, as the pair capped off just their third Large Tour CDI competition together with another top three finish. Kelly Layne and Udon P produced one of their best tests of the winter circuit, receiving a 70.157%, which thrilled Layne. She has been working on their balance and fluidness throughout this past year, which is evident in their increase in scores this afternoon for their first top three finish this season.
