Bateson Chandler and Alcazar Capture Their First Win of AGDF Season in FEI Grand Prix Special!

Katherine Bateson Chandler (USA) and Alcazar performed a lovely test to win the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) FEI Grand Prix Special CDI-W3*, presented by Today’s Equestrian and Diane & George Fellows, on a score of 71.255%.  It was determined that Cesar Parra (USA) and Van the Man placed second after tying with Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven aboard Divertimento on a score of 70.569%. The final day of competition at AGDF 10 concludes tomorrow with Florida International Dressage Youth Championship classes along with the FEI Intermediaire 1 Freestyle CDI-W1*, presented by Michael and Roz Collins.

Watch the winning ride for Katherine and Alcazar!
Video courtesy of Campfield Videos

Bateson Chandler was elated with Alcazar tonight, and it seems the two have truly hit their stride with great performances in both the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Special this week. „He was great. He’s been a tricky horse in a lot of ways, and it has taken him a while to get over his own show nerves and let go,“ she explained. „It has always been a tension thing with him, and he’s a very hot horse. He has his own show nerves, and I’ve had to work through that and this seems like finally it all came together. The relief is overwhelming.“

Alcazar, who is still very green at the Grand Prix level, has showed Bateson Chandler that he has all of the talent in the world, which is why she has chosen to be careful and not push him out of his comfort zone too quickly. „I think he’s a very complete horse and is going to have a lot of highlight movements in the future. His passage and piaffe are going to be quite special,“ she commented. „He’s changed so much over the past few months and I think he also has a great hind end and his changes are ultimately going to be very good too.“

The pair continues to bond and Bateson Chandler noted that Alcazar is a mentally very sharp; she always has to stay one step ahead of the game with him. The pair has booked a flight back across the Atlantic to England where Bateson Chandler summers at Carl Hester’s training facility. „We really try to make decisions about his future as a team, and I have to give a huge thank you to (owner) Jane (Clark) for sticking by us. We had a lot of rough patches. She’s given me so many opportunities, we call it ‚Team Clark,‘ and having that much support is really incredible,“ she said.

Cesar Parra had two solid tests with Van the Man this week, placing sixth in a very large Grand Prix class this past Thursday and taking home a second in the Special today. The pair, who has been training diligently at home, was rewarded for their dedication this week. „He has been such a challenging ride for me, probably the most challenging in my life. He’s really become a different horse and we’ve seen a huge transformation in him, which is why we waited until the end of the season to bring him out,“ remarked Parra. „He’s been great and I decided to stay home and do my homework because he knows the movements, but he was very insecure and it seemed to be too challenging, so we decided to take a step back.“

Parra continued to work on a routine with „Van“ to help the horse relax and not become too over stimulated by different atmospheres. „The main thing we did was work in a routine each day. We gave him exposure to other things and tried to keep him as happy and healthy as you can. He gets a lot of time out of the stall, and he’s really changed. I really need to thank my groom, Jennifer Mandracia. She’s dedicated so much time to him in the past year to help him come out of his shell,“ he expressed. Both pairs will compete at the final week of AGDF competition in two weeks in the CDI 3* that will accompany the CDIO 3*.

Final Results FEI CDI-W3* Grand Prix Special presented by Today’s Equestrian and Diane & George Fellows

Place, Rider, Nationality, Horse, Horse Information:
Judge E% (Hotz-USA), Judge H% (Nivelle-GER), Judge C% (Leyman-BEL), Judge M% (Schwennesen-AUS), Judge B% (Clarke-GBR), Total%

1. Katherine Bateson Chandler (USA), Alcazar, 2005 Dutch Warmbloood gelding owned by Jane Forbes Clark, Contango x Polina x Ferro:
73.333%, 73.824%, 69.804%, 69.216%, 70.098%, 71.255%

2. Cesar Parra (USA), Van the Man, 2002 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Michael and Sarah Davis, Obelisk x Lady x Fruhling:
69.314%, 72.353%, 69.020%, 69.804%, 72.353%, 70.569%

3. Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven (SWE), Divertimento, 2002 Westphalian gelding owned by Lövsta Stuteri, Di Versace x Fatima x Farragamo:
71.078%, 67.549%, 72.549%, 69.412%, 72.255%, 70.569%

4. Christoph Koschel (USA), Tiesto, 2000 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Hof Beckerode GMBH, Gribaldi x Nadie x Ferro:
68.922%, 71.373%, 70.196%, 70.294%, 70.098%, 70.176%

5. Charlotte Jorst (USA), Kastels Nintendo, 2003 Dutch Warmblood stallion owned by Kastel Denmark, Negro x Rodieni R x Monaco:
70.392%, 69.706%, 69.510%, 70.882%, 69.804%, 70.059%

6. Arlene Page (USA), Woodstock 2003 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by rider, Havel x Mirania x Contango:
67.353%, 70.196%, 69.020%, 69.216%, 69.412%, 69.039%

6. Lara Griffith (GBR), Rubin Al Assad, 2002 Hanoverian gelding owned by Dr. & Mrs. Bechtolsheimer, Rubin Royale x Wandergirl x Wanderbursch 2:
66.765%, 69.510%, 69.118%, 70.098%, 69.706%, 69.039%

8. Devon Kane (USA), Destiny, 2003 Danish Warmblood gelding owned by Diamante Farms, Diamond Hit x Midt-West Regina x Rubenstein I:
68.922%, 67.941%, 69.216%, 67.647%, 68.725%, 68.490%

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Source: Presse release