IRISH dressage rider Anna Merveldt and the 11-year-old stallion Esporim continued their brilliant recent run of form, by taking an impressive fourth place finish in this morning’s (Sunday) CDI4* Grand Prix Special at Achleiten in Austria.

A personal best score as a pairing in Grand Prix Special of 71.426% for Merveldt and Esporim saw them finish narrowly behind third place finisher Florian Bacher (AUS) with Fidertraum (72.872%). Second place went to another Austrian rider, Victoria Max-Theurer and Abegglen NRW (77.702%), while victory went to six-time Olympic Gold medallist, Germany’s Isabel Werth with DSP Quantaz on a score of 80.149%.

Werth completed a big tour four-timer in Achleiten, winning the Grand Prix Special with DSP Quantaz to add to their Grand Prix win on Friday. Werth also won the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Kür (Freestyle to Music) classes with Emilio 107.

Anna Merveldt represented Ireland at the London Olympics in 2012 and was part of the Irish team that has qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. In recent weeks Merveldt and Esporim have recorded a string of top-four placings at international Grand Prix level across Europe.

Supportive owners

Merveldt's 11-year-old Lusitano stallion Esporim is owned by Mario Greco, Giovanna Mazza, Merveldt's sister Lorli Higgins and her brother-in-law Michael.

Sources: Horse Sport Ireland press release and Paul Nolan press release