LONDON, April 13 (Xinhua) -- American Laura Graves beat defending champion Isabell Werth of Germany into runner-up spot in the Grand Prix with a personal-best at the FEI World Cup Dressage Final in Paris on Friday.
Graves, 30, runner-up to Werth and her brilliant mare Weihegold at the 2017 Final in Omaha, the United States, scored a personal-best of 81.413 points. The 48-year-old Werth, the most medalled athlete in the history of equestrian sport, was second on 78.261.
German riders Jessica von Bredow-Werndal with Unee BB and Dorothee Schneider with Sammy Davis Jr claimed third and fourth places, while Sweden's Patrik Kittel finished fifth ahead of young Dane, Daniel Bachmann-Andersen with Blue Hors Zack, in sixth.
When asked how it felt to have Werth sitting beside her in second place, Graves said, "It feels very scary, especially with such a fierce competitor because I know she's going to ride even harder tomorrow."
The 2018 World Cup Final title will be decided on Saturday after the feestyle competition, where Graves will face tough challenge from Werth, the German legend who has won six Olympic, five World Championship and nine European gold medals.
