Articles: Press Release
Ravel Rewrites Record Book and Wins 2009 Rolex FEI World Cup Final for
Steffen Peters
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NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 18, 2009
By Joanie Morris
Las Vegas, NV The Dressage world has changed.
American rider Steffen Peters and Ravel are at the center of the universe.
The suspense built throughout the night at the 2009 Rolex FEI World Cup
Final in the Thomas & Mack Arena, and with only one American horse remaining
in the competition, the crowd had to wait until the third to last horse in
the ring. With $102,000 USD on the line and a Rolex watch, the competition
was fierce.
Ravel, in first World Cup Final with Steffen Peters, rose to the occasion in
a very difficult Freestyle. His flying changes and piaffe and passage were
foot perfect, the movements were incredibly tough and the horse just
thrived. He got better as the test went on and was rewarded with a mark of
84.95%. It was plenty for the win.
It is fair to say, and I think I speak for Ravel too, said Peters. It was
magic soil in there. To share that moment in time with the most amazing
dressage fans in the world is an incredible feeling. It hasnt quite sunk in
yet.
Owned by Akiko Yamazaki, Ravel, an 11-year-old Dutch gelding, won the Rolex
Grand Prix on Friday afternoon, the first time an American has ever won that
competition.
Ravel has an amazing mind, said Peters. I honestly didnt have to push
him. Tonight I could ride him a little more sensitively, he was with me so
much. Naturally hes a very, very solid horse. He was extremely confident
when we schooled, so I knew he wasnt too bothered by the atmosphere, I cant
take credit for his mind he was born like that. Im one of those really lucky
guy who gets to ride a horse like that.
Fourth in the Olympic Games, Ravel has continued to improve and had
beautiful piaffe half pass at the end of his test, showing his strength and
concentration. The transitions were flawless and the crowd were rewarded for
their patience for their hero. He changed his music from the Games, but the
basic choreography stayed the same.
We worked on the timing, said Peters. We changed the trot music, it had an
Asian theme in Hong Kong and I didnt think that would be suitable for Las
Vegas. We changed it to Coldplay Vida la Vida.
Isabell Werth and Satchmo, Team Gold and Individual Silver medalists for
Germany at the 2008 Olympic Games turned in another stellar effort.
But 84.500% just wasnt quite good enough.
The 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding sometimes shows objection in the piaffe
and passage (as he did at the Olympic Games) but tonight he cooperated and
tried very hard. As usual his half-pass and canter work were fantastic.
Really, really happy with Satchmo, said Werth. He was super, he had no
problems inside the arena. We both were really concentrated so it worked.
Werth rode him very, very confidently. This pair won the 2007 World Cup
Final in this same venue. The horse was very accurate and correct, but it
wasnt a match for Ravel.
Anky van Grunsven, nine-time World Cup Champion and Painted Black were third
on a score of 82.150%.
The day kicked off with the Las Vegas Grand Prix for the Jumpers. Open to
non-World Cup competitors and the bottom 1/3 of the finishers from the Final
got a crack at $75,000 this afternoon.
American Rich Fellers (who was fourth in the World Cup Final II on Friday on
Flexible) rode Kilkenny Rindo to an impressive win by almost two
seconds. Five horses went through to the jump-off over Anthony DAmbrosios
track, picking up $22,500 for Harry and Mollie Chapman in the process.
Fellers, from Wilsonville, OR lays fourth in the World Cup Standings with
Flexible. The dynamic chestnut gelding takes four converted World Cup points
into the Finale tomorrow.
The last leg of the show jumping begins tomorrow at 12.00 PST, when the
curtain closes, a second 2009 Rolex FEI World Cup Champion will be crowned.
ENDS
For complete results and more information, please see:
www.worldcuplasvegas.com.
.
For blogs, photos and videos: www.clubequestrian.com
If you have questions, please contact Joanie Morris at jmorris@usef.org.
Attached photo is of Steffen Peters and Ravel. Please credit Shannon
Brinkman and use only with this release.
The vision of the United States Equestrian Federation is to provide
leadership
for equestrian sport in the United States of America by promoting the
pursuit
of excellence from the grassroots to the Olympic Games, based on a
foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare
of its human and equine athletes.
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