Mary Warren and Mindarah Park Raphael, winners of he Grand Prix CDI Special at 2019 Brisbane CDI

© Amy-Sue Alston photography

By Gary Lung

The 3rd day of the Saddleworld 2019 Brisbane CDI started early for me. I woke up to horses banging on their stable doors, neighing and demanding their breakfast. When I looked out across to the stable complex, I could see a number of competitors with their support crew (husbands, partners, family members or friends) all busy cleaning stables, feeding and watering their hungry horses while other horses wait patiently and some not so patiently for their owners to surface to take care of them.

QSEC (Queensland State Equestrian Centre) has a fantastic stable complex with over 150 anti-slip rubber matting stables and over 55 powered camping sites very close to the stables. I’ve heard a lot of competitors commenting that they like the close proximity of the camping sites but it has its downfall – noisy, banging, neighing and squealing horses through the day and night.

As campers appear through the early morning, the Chris Wain Equine Vet Services Para Equestrian competitions commenced at 7-45am in the Main Arena. Victoria Davis from NSW on her handsome stallion, Celere score an amazing 71.08% in the FEI Individual Grade II. In the FEI Individual Grade IV, Louise Duncan from NZ was the clear winner on her NZ warmblood, Wolkenstein BC.

For the rest of the morning, both arenas in the indoor ran constantly. It was like a well-oiled engine with an army of helpers and volunteers all efficiently carrying out their jobs, moving arenas, raking arenas, moving judges and writers into position and officials and stewards gear checking and ensuring competitors ride to their time.

Next in the Main Arena was the EJ & Co Intermediate B CDN competition which was won by Lizzie Wilson-Fellows on Lets Jazzabit. It was lovely to see Lets Jazzabit ridden in a desired uphill frame which the judges appreciated. In the second indoor arena, the Equestrian Qld Advanced 5C, 18 competitors all vying for placings with our own Qld coach, trainer and rider Nicole Tough on her Furstenball gelding, Ferragamo winning on a lovely score of 70.14%.

Yesterday our Junior and Young Riders competed in the FEI Team test, but today they all got to do it again in the FEI Individual test. In the DQ FEI Young Rider (14 to 18 years old) CDI – J, Lucy Alati on her beautiful black gelding was the clear winner from all 5 judges. In the Riders XOXO FEI Young Rider CDI – Y competition, Mary Warren on Mindarah Park Ramirus just edged out Daisy Fielding on her horse Fairbanks Davinci by 0.62%. Mary Nitschke from South Australia riding her Regardez Moi gelding showed that yesterday’s win in the Intermediate II Under 25 was not a fluke. She won the Under 25 Grand Prix on 63%.

For the rest of the day in the second indoor arena, the Zebu Equestrian Designs and The Saddlefitter Intermediate 1 CDN competition was a close one. The winner was Mel Van den berge on Remi Lady Locksley on 67.60%. This was closely followed by Dean Izzard on Salmour on 67.35% and Danica Vansleve on For Fun 45 also on 67.35%. Fourth placegetter was Kristy Battista on Jag Classique on 67.14% and in fifth place Matthew Lord riding Immenhof Scout on 67.06%. What a fantastic competition, the top 5 placegetters all with less than 1% between them.

Dean Izzard and his partner Anthony are familiar faces in the dressage world. Both working tirelessly behind the scene at events. Apart from volunteering Dean trains and competes his horses and has been a member of Queensland State dressage squad. Anthony leaves the riding to Dean and you will often find him at the gear check. Dean imported his gelding Salmour as a young horse and has

trained him up to FEI, placing 2nd in the Prix St George yesterday and the Intermediate 1 today with great scores, demonstrating the hard work that they are putting in. Congratulations to the boys.

The Grand Prix Special as always been a highlight for Chester and me. We both love riding this test, involving big sweeping half passes, passages, extended trots, passages and more sweeping half passes. We call it the “Ferrari” of the Grand Prix. Today we got to see Paula Price on True Sensation win the Saddleworld GP Special CDN and Mary Warren on Mindarah Park Raphael winning the Black Horse Clothing GP Special CDI. Another close competition with Emma Flavelle-Watts riding Kim Tenkate’s Cabaret C who came a very close second, less than 0.5%. I’ve never really paid close attention to placings and percentages before but seeing them now whilst writing this report has opened my eyes and made me realise that you need to ride each movement as close as mistake free as possible to gain a placing.

The first freestyle of the event was the Tenkate Performance Horses Advanced freestyle and it was lovely to see 7 combinations dance to specific dressage movements to music. Some had lively toe tapping music while others chose more orchestral atmospheric genre to showcase movements that showed off their horses strengths. Ask any dressage person what they think of when listening to pieces of music and they would probably answer, “Would this piece of music suit my horse’s trot or canter?” Spoken like a true dressage person.

In the outdoor arenas, the young dressage horse competitions continued with round 2. Yesterday 4, 5,6 and 7 year old horses and ponies competed in the first round and if they qualify with a minimum score of 6.5, they get to ride in the second round under different judges. In the 4 year old Young Horse, Cheryl O’Brien’s new locally bred stallion, Remi Vigneron ridden by Melissa Van den berge was the clear winner. Remi Vigneron is by the jumping sensation stallion Viscount (Ger) out of the full sister to Underdiscussion (eventing champion 3* with Chris Burton). In the 5 year old Young Horse, last year’s 4 Year Old winner, Esteem owned by Karen and Ebonee Leary, ridden by Jayden Brown won it. Esteem is by Prestige VDl and her elegant paces impressed the judges. In the 6 year old Horse, Bertone owned by Lauren George and ridden by Jayden Brown was the clear winner on a final score of 81.2%. Bertone is by Benicio and he has been successful in 4 and 5 year old Young Horse classes throughout Australia. For the 4 year old Pony, Jacqueline Huppert expertly rode her stallion Cognac Diamond to win on a score of 83.4%. Cognac Diamond is by White Diamond and the partnership between the two is growing. For the 5 year old Pony, Toni Webb won in on her gorgeous pony Salient Park Telynor. For the 6 year old Pony, Donablitzen, owned by Jane and Des Summers and ridden by Mel Van den berge, won on a score of 69.8%. For the 7 year old Pony competition, Toni Webb riding her gelding Salient Park Prince won on a score of 65.429%.

Lots of highs and lots of lows, but it was lovely to see at this evening’s presentation many happy faces and happy smiles. I love seeing people receiving their rosettes and prizes, having their photos taken and congratulating each other. Day 4 is another day of exciting dressage, it will be packed with lots of freestyles, lots of dancing horses moving to the beat of the music and plenty of discussions amongst the spectators as to which freestyle they like most. Stay tuned!

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