Las Vegas, NV – April 20, 2007 – The field was small, only four competitors, but impressive with Daniel Pinto of Portugal winning the consolation competition, the Rolex FEI Grand Prix Freestyle B-Final as part of the 2007 Rolex FEI World Cup Finals at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. The class was open to all horses who did not qualify for the Final on Saturday. Pinto and his Lusitano stallion, Galopin de la Font, received a score of 71.650.

“I am extremely happy to be in the World Cup Final and touched by the reaction of the public,” said Pinto. “It is an honor for the breed and good for the World Cup to have such an exotic horse.”

The music that Pinto chose was as exotic as his horse featuring a bullfighting theme. Pinto chose the music because it reminded him of dressage.

“Bullfighting on horses is very similar to that in dressage, where the horse must be in control at all times.”
Wayne Channon of Great Britain was second riding Lorenzo scoring 68.500. Third went to Evi Strasser of Canada and Quantum Tyme with 67.750.

Earlier in the day, the Invitational FEI Grand Prix class was held that was open to US horses and riders. The winner of the class was Mette Rosencrantz of California riding her Dutch Warmblood Basquewille. Rosencrantz received a score of 63.542. Michael Barisone and Neruda were second with 63.042 and Kristina Harrison-Naness was third on Rociero XV scoring 61.625.

Rosencrantz was thrilled with her win as well as the experience in Las Vegas. “To win today was a lot of fun, I am very proud of my horse,” said Rosencrantz. “To have this experience is very valuable. We are all trying to move on and it is hard to get in an environment in front of such a big crowd. This is how it is in Europe, so competing here is wonderful. I didn’t want it to end.”

Dressage culminates on Saturday with the Rolex FEI Grand Prix Freestyle that will determine the 2007 Rolex FEI World Cup Champion. The top 12 finishers from Thursday’s opening day Grand Prix qualified to compete in Saturday’s Freestyle. They will ride in inverse order of finish from Thursday’s Grand Prix. Scores do not carry forward so the best score in the Freestyle will earn the title of World Cup Champion.

The winner of Thursday’s Grand Prix was six-time Olympic medalist Isabell Werth of Germany, who won the World Cup Final in 1992. Her six Olympic medals include four gold and two silver on her legendary mount, Gigolo. The defending champion Anky van Grunsven of the Netherlands, who has won the Final a record eight times, did not enter this year’s Final after giving birth to a baby daughter just last month.

Started in 1979, the FEI World Cup Jumping Final is an annual international showdown among the world’s best show jumping horses and riders. The 2007 event will mark the seventh FEI World Cup Jumping Final to be held in the United States, following Finals in Baltimore in 1980, Tampa, FL in 1989, Del Mar, CA in 1992 and the three in Las Vegas in 2000, 2003 and 2005. In the 28 finals held through 2006, United States riders have emerged with the most titles, having won the championship seven times.

First held in 1986, the FEI World Cup Dressage Final has been held in the U.S. only twice, in 1995 in Los Angeles and 2005 in Las Vegas. The Netherlands has dominated the competition, winning seven times, followed by Germany with six. The United States won its first title in 2003 when Debbie McDonald rode Brentina to the Championship. Brentina is owned by Parry and Peggy Thomas of Las Vegas, for whom the Thomas & Mack Center, the venue for the World Cup Finals, is named.

Las Vegas Events, Inc. (LVE), producer of the 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2007 FEI World Cup Finals, was founded in 1983. LVE has grown with Las Vegas as the city emerged as one of the world’s top special event and resort destinations. A private, not-for-profit organization, LVE is funded by hotel room tax and serves as the exclusive major special events agency for the city. Since 1991, Las Vegas Events has produced, presented or supported more than 390 events, which have driven more than 3.3 million visitors to the area, resulting in an economic impact of more than $2 billion.

Fans wanting to bring home the excitement of every ride of the 2007 Rolex FEI World CupTM Finals will be able to do so with full-coverage DVDs. DVDs of the Dressage and Jumping Finals will be available for each of Friday, Saturday, & Sunday’s Sessions and will include every minute of action from those sessions. The DVDs of each session will be available for sale at the Thomas & Mack Center starting Saturday and will also be available on line.

The Animal Planet television network will televise a special 90-minute broadcast of the 2007 Rolex FEI World CupTM Finals on Saturday, May 12 beginning at 9:00 p.m. (EDT). The telecast will include the Finals in both jumping and dressage

More at http://www.worldcuplasvegas.com/news_dressage_042007.php

World Cup Las Vegas - http://www.worldcuplasvegas.com