Last Updated on March 2, 2025 by adminahb
Evelyn Eger & Dancing Darkness. Photo ©susanjstickle.com
Eight athletes represented seven different nations, with Eger emerging victorious on Connie Kang’s Hanoverian mare Dancing Darkness 4, who made her CDI debut in AGDF 8. The Dancier x Sandro Hit daughter — a graduate of the 2018 P.S.I. auction — scored 72.362% with a consistent, harmonious test that garnered lots of eights. The high score of 74.894% came from judge at E, Christoph Umbach (LUX).
Susan Pape (GBR), winner of the qualifying grand prix on Thursday, claimed second in the special riding Harmony’s Giulilanta to 71.766%. The Jazz x Flemmingh 14-year-old mare has made a fantastic return to competition after a two-year absence due to injury. This was her second ever CDI Grand Prix Special, her previous best being 70.851% achieved in AGDF 7.
Two U.S. athletes were tightly packed into third and fourth: Callie O’Connell’s new personal best of 67.355% with Ruling Cortes LLC’s 16-year-old Eaton H (by Wynton) earned the yellow ribbon. Meagan Davis was right behind with a 67.17% ride on Scott Durkin’s 12-year-old Totilas gelding, Toronto Lightfoot.
At 11 years old, Dancing Darkness was the youngest horse in the class and handled the atmosphere in the Global Dressage Stadium at Wellington International’s showgrounds like a pro.
“She’s a special mare, but she has tricky buttons,” said the 27-year-old Eger, who is enjoying a fabulous run of form at her first AGDF, including winning the previous night’s Palm Beach Derby on her Derby debut.
“I love mares and she really is a mare, so I have to listen to her and see if she’s in the mood or not and whether or not we’ll have an easy training day. We have to listen to each other and now we understand each other well — that’s what I like with her. It’s more of a challenge and I love it.”
by Alice Collins
Wellington International
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