Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven and Don Auriello continue to display incredible consistency at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) as they made another huge statement in their second appearance this week, earning the win in the “Friday Night Stars” FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W, presented by The Axel Johnson Group. Competition at AGDF continues tomorrow with the FEI Grand Prix Special CDI-W presented by The Axel Johnson Group beginning at 1:45 p.m. Vilhelmson-Silfven (SWE) and Don Auriello received a 79.775% for a commanding victory, while Mikala Gundersen (DEN) and My Lady collected second place with a 77.675%. Veteran pair Lars Petersen (DEN) and Mariett finished in third just behind their fellow Danish teammates with a 76.400% for a Scandinavian sweep. Vilhelmson-Silfven and Don Auriello made the most of their first outing this week, winning the FEI Grand Prix CDI-W, presented by The Axel Johnson Group on Thursday and improved upon their results in front of a large crowd at The Stadium at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on a crisp Friday evening. Don Auriello, a 2002 Hanoverian gelding owned by Lövsta Stuteri, the training and breeding operation of Antonia Ax:on Johnson of The Axel Johnson Group, has a plethora of international competition experience, representing Sweden with Vilhelmson-Silfven at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Caen, France, and the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England. Only improving with age, Don Auriello and Vilhelmson-Silfven have been nearly unbeatable in Large Tour competition this year at AGDF. “It was an amazing feeling tonight. When you don’t have any problems in your test you can just let go and ride. You can go with the flow and I think that’s the feeling today, and I was very, very happy,” commented Vilhelmson-Silfven, who has represented her home nation of Sweden at every Olympic Games since 1992 in Barcelona, Spain. She continued, “We’re actually changing the routine the whole time and changing the choreography a bit. We’ve been going back and forth for a while. It’s an ever-changing process. A number of special awards were given throughout the evening, specifically in recognition of the owners who continue to serve as the backbone of the sport through their continued support and passion for dressage. Karin Persson, owner and rider of Giuliano, were recognized for their high point score of 79.565% in the AGDF 5 National competition. Melissa Fladland, rider of Mismarck J, accepted the high point score award for the AGDF 6 National show on behalf of owners Rocking Diamond S for the pair’s 78.128%. Anita Fialkow accepted the AGDF 7 FEI Prix St. Georges Owner Award presented by Adequan®, as the owner of Catherina, ridden by Lisa Wilcox, who won the class. Antonia Ax:son Johnson of Lövsta Stuteri accepted the Owner Award for the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle presented by Adequan®, while Don Auriello’s groom, Angelica Karlson, was awarded the Groom’s Initiative Award by Mark Bellissimo and the Wellington Equestrian Partners for providing diligent and continued care for the winning horse and rider combination. Michael Klimke (GER) and his own Djamba Djokiba dominated the Small Tour competition once again this season, taking another win in the FEI Intermediaire I, presented by Engel & Völkers, with a 72.763%. Lindsay Kellock (CAN) and Royal Prinz, owned by Teresa Simmons, followed in second with a 70.263% while Virginia Yarur Ready (CHI) and her own Finn placed just behind Kellock with a score of 70.219%.
