Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven and Don Auriello received a score of 76.900 percent to win the FEI Grand Prix on the first afternoon of CDI-W competition at the 2016 Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF), which will host seven CDIs in total during the season. This was the pair’s first competition since the FEI European Championships in August 2015. Last year's American national champion Laura Graves and Verdades finished in second with a score of 75.540 percent and Canadian Leah Wilson Wilkins came in third with Fabian JS. Riders from 15 nations competed. "I felt very, very good with our ride today. He felt great in the warm-up as well as yesterday. He got a bit excited when he came into the ring, and I think it's because he hasn't shown since the European Championships and I could feel that," noted Vilhelmson-Silfven about the 2002 Hanoverian gelding (Don Davidoff—Wey o mey) owned by Lövsta Stuteri. Her goal is qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; it would be the seventh time she represented Sweden in Olympic competition. "He has like five gears more so I started off a bit careful, but then as we continued he began to settle. I'm pleased, and it was a good feeling to be in the ring again,” said Vilhelmson-Silfven, adding that they still had improvement to make. “"I think the power is something that I'll look for in the future. Just to have it a bit more there on top without losing control, but I'm still very pleased.” Vilhelmson-Silfven will campaign other horses during this year’s AGDF, but Don Auriello is her most experienced. Together, they have competed in the European Championships, World Equestrian Games, World Cup Finals, and the Olympic Games. Coming in third to Vilhelmson-Silfven and Graves, Wilson Wilkins was noticeably ecstatic, as this was her and Fabian JS’s first top CDI Grand Prix finish at AGDF. Final Results: FEI Grand Prix CDI-W, presented by MTICA Farms Place, Rider, Nationality, Horse, Horse Information: Judge E%, Judge H%, Judge C%, Judge M%, Judge B%, Total % 1. Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven (SWE), Don Auriello, 2002 Hanoverian gelding by Don Davidoff x Wey o mey x White Star owned by Lövsta Stuteri: 79.200%, 78.700%, 77.600%, 73.000%, 76.000%, 76.900% 2. Laura Graves (USA), Verdades, 2002 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Florett AS x Liwilarda x Goya owned by Laura Graves: 77.800%, 71.800%, 77.600%, 77.100%, 73.400%, 75.540% 3. Leah Wilson Wilkins (CAN), Fabian JS, 1999 Hanoverian gelding by Feiner Graf x Daloa x Denberg owned by Maria Simpson: 72.200%, 72.400%, 71.300%, 69.800%, 72.800%, 71.700% 4. Lars Petersen (DEN), Mariett, 1998 Danish Warmblood mare by Come Back II x Zendi x Sidney owned by Marcia Pepper & Lars Petersen: 72.700%, 72.100%, 72.100%, 70.400%, 70.300%, 71.520% 5. Juan Matute, Jr (ESP), Don Diego Ymas, 2003 Warmblood by Don Federico x Wie Platine owned by Juan Matute: 70.400%, 71.000%, 70.600%, 70.700%, 70.000%, 70.540% 6. Charlotte Jorst (USA), Kastels Nintendo, 2003 Dutch Warmblood stallion by Negro x Rodieni R x Monaco owned by Kastel Denmark: 71.600%, 69.200%, 70.400%, 70.100%, 71.300%, 70.520% 7. Mikala Gundersen (DEN), My Lady, 2000 Danish Warmblood mare by Michellino x Marion x Ritterstern owned by Janne Rumbough: 70.300%, 68.900%, 70.500%, 72.000%, 70.000%, 70.340% 8. Katherine Bateson Chandler (USA), Alcazar, 2005 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Contango x Polina x Ferro owned by Jane Forbes Clark: 69.100%, 69.500%, 71.000%, 68.700%, 68.600%, 69.380%
