![Germany's Matthias Alexander Rath and Totilas will be competing at the 2012 World Dressage Masters Palm Beach presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach. Photo: John Flannagan.](/images/articles/2404/totilas.jpg)
Germany's Matthias Alexander Rath and Totilas will be competing at the 2012 World Dressage Masters Palm Beach presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach. Photo: John Flannagan.
With his current rider, Germany's Matthias Alexander Rath, Totilas won the CHIO Aachen 2011 in July; Totilas and Rath went on to help the German Team win a silver medal at the European Dressage Championships in August. The WDM Palm Beach will launch Rath's and Totilas 2012 competition season, which is directed towards the London 2012 Olympics. Totilas is an 11 year old KWPN stallion co-owned by renowned German Olympic Show Jumper and breeder Paul Schockemöhle and German Olympic Dressage rider Ann-Katrin Linsenhof.
Wellington Classic Dressage is the organizer of the WDM Palm Beach, having taken over the reins of this unique event in 2011. Managing Partner Noreen O'Sullivan says excitement is building around an already star-studded list of confirmed entries. "The word is out to the top riders in the world, who are making their plans and looking to Wellington Classic Dressage and the WDM Palm Beach for an exciting winter season in Florida," she says.
O'Sullivan has confirmed that the reigning WDM Palm Beach Champions Steffen Peters and Ravel will be returning to Florida to defend their title. Ravel is a 13 year old KWPN gelding owned by WDM Palm Beach sponsor Akiko Yamazaki. The only time Ravel and Totilas have competed against one another with their current riders was at the CHIO Aachen 2011, where Totilas narrowly defeated Ravel in the Grand Prix Freestyle.
O'Sullivan has also confirmed several other top international pairs for the WDM Palm Beach 2012, including reigning Olympic Champions Anky van Grunsven and Salinero, as well as the 2011 European Team Champions from Great Britain, Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin, who will bring her European Championship mount, Valegro. Making a return visit to the WDM Palm Beach will be the second and third placed pairs from the WDM Palm Beach 2011: Tinne Vilhelmsson Silfven of Sweden on Favourit and Tina Konyot of the US with Calecto V.
Over the coming weeks, there will be announcements about more top international entries for the WDM Palm Beach, as well as information about tickets for VIP table seating and General Admission. "We are planning an expanded General Admission Area, up-scale vendors for food and shopping, entertainment, and of course, some great competition," says O'Sullivan. The WDM Palm Beach 2011 was a spectacular success, and a memorable evening for over 1200 spectators who were treated to a multi-course French themed dinner at ringside. The WDM Palm Beach 2012 is expected to be the dressage event of the season in South Florida.
World Dressage Masters Palm Beach Fast Facts:
What: North America's only World Dressage Masters CDI5*, and part of the richest dressage series in the world. Up to twenty of the world's top dressage stars will compete for 100,000 Euros in prize money at the WDM Palm Beach.
When: January 26 - 29, 2012
Where: Jim Brandon Equestrian Center - Okeeheelee Park South, 7500 Forest Hill Blvd,
West Palm Beach, FL 33413
Producer: Wellington Classic Dressage - www.wellingtonclassicdressage.com - Noreen O'Sullivan 561-227-1570 or John Flanagan 561-714-9058.
Past WDM results, as well as complete WDM Rider Rankings can also be found on the WDM website: www.WorldDressageMasters.com
WDM Palm Beach Presenting Sponsor: International Polo Club Palm Beach
Additional WDM Palm Beach Sponsor: Akiko Yamazaki
WDM Presenting Partner: Axel Johnson Group
WDM Official partners: team EXQUIS, Moorland Investments and Moorland Stables, Nürnberger Versicherungsgruppe
WDM Official supplier: Jerich International
WDM Global Media Partner: Eurosport
Media Contacts: Mason Phelps 561-371-0118 or Karen Robinson 604-318-3121