WELLINGTON, Fla.--France’s Morgan Barbançon, on Thursday, March 23, placed first and second in the CDI4* Grand Prix, the qualifying event for ‘Friday Night Stars’ Grand Prix Freestyle,

Morgan Barbancon on Habana Libre A (Photo by Susan Stickle)Sweden's Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvé placed third,

Barbançon first rode her long-time partner, Boleroto to an overall score of 71.109% to take over the lead position halfway through the class.

“I wasn’t super happy with how I rode the trot tour because I felt it was a bit dull and it could’ve been a bit more powerful,” said the French Olympian of her turn on Bolero. “The canter tour was super today, and he really gave it his all which I think reflected in the scores. I was aiming for a safe test with no mistakes as sometimes I can override, so I am very happy to have had a fault-free ride.”

 

GOING LAST on her new rising star, Habana Libre A, she beat her own score with a 72.370%.

“The big baby is becoming a big boy,” she said of her newer partner. “He was so motivated to go today which made for a really nice round, and it was another great ride to get him in the ring and gaining confidence. When I said go, he immediately jumped to it whereas before he would be unsure, so each day I am able to ride him more to get more out of him. To know that everything in the test can get better but he is already getting such good scores is super motivating.”

Vilhelmson Silfvén scored 70.543% on Devanto for third in the class that had riders from 10 different nations.