Canadian Olympian David Marcus of Campbellville, ON, dominated the CDI-W Wellington Dressage, a World Cup qualifying event, held January 31 to February 3 in Wellington, FL. Marcus won both the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle competitions riding Chrevi’s Capital for owner Deborah Miculinic.
In the Grand Prix held Thursday, January 31, Marcus topped a starting field of 13 horses with a score of 70.34%, edging out Swedish Olympian Tinne Vilhelmson for the win. In Saturday’s night’s Grand Prix Freestyle, Marcus performed his new musical program for the second time in competition, earning an impressive score of 74.45% from the five-member panel of international judges. Vilhelmson was again his toughest competition, placing second with a score of 72.35% riding Divertimento.
“He was very good in there, under the lights at night,” said Marcus of his Freestyle performance with Chrevi’s Capital, a 13-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding (Chrevi’s Cavallo x Weinberg). “He was really comfortable. This was my second time doing the Freestyle, the first being last week at the World Dressage Masters, so I felt a little more confident doing it, too. I felt like I could really ride to the music. I think it worked out really well.”
Complied by freestyle designer Joost Peters of The Netherlands, Marcus’s new freestyle features the music of WHAM! and George Michael, including ‘Careless Whisper’ and ‘Freedom’, to highlight extremely difficult choreography. One week earlier, Marcus debuted his new freestyle at the prestigious CDI5* World Dressage Masters Palm Beach where he was the top Canadian, placing sixth.
With his wins at CDI-W Wellington Dressage, Marcus now leads the North American World Cup League standings. A qualifying event for the 2013 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Final to be held from April 24 to 28 in Goteborg, Sweden, the CDI-W Wellington Dressage is the fifth of eight qualifiers held for North American competitors. The top two athletes in the standings at the conclusion of qualifying competition in March will be invited to contest the annual World Cup Final.
“If we stay in this position, and if Capital keeps coming out and having rides like this where I feel he’s confident and it’s in his best interest, then we’ll go,” said Marcus, 32, of whether he will attend the prestigious Reem Acra FEI World Cup Final.
In addition to winning the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle, Marcus also won the Champion Equine Insurance Dressage Style Award. Quickly gaining a reputation for his flair for fashion, Marcus now has several style awards to his credit.
“It’s important to be presentable, and to do that not only in the way you dress, but also in the way you present your horse,” said Marcus, who trains with six-time U.S. Olympian Robert Dover. “I love getting these awards, and I really appreciate them!”
Marcus operates David Marcus Dressage in Campbellville, ON, just west of Toronto. For the winter competition season, he is based at Stillpoint Farm in Wellington, FL. In addition to campaigning Chrevi’s Capital and Don Kontes at the grand prix level, Marcus is also developing the seven-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, Betrina, for owner Deborah Miculinic.
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