By Roger Fitzhardinge / Photos ©Roger Fitzhardinge

Reporting from the second day at the Sydney CDI, and what a spectacular Sydney autumnal day it was! Perfect dressage weather and the horses and riders all at ease at this impressive venue that is so historic, having been the venue for the Olympics - that were 15 years ago - yet the venue still looks immaculate and new. It’s a credit to those who look after the arenas - they are simply fantastic - and with all the flooding rain Sydney has had in the previous week, the arenas are simply better than ever.

One of the biggest classes of the show was the Kieffer Intermediate I and it was Matthew Dowsley who stole the show with the Jenkyn’s owned Adloo Richard by Royal Hit. A score of 70.26% was indeed a reflection of the great work. Matthew has only had the ride for three months and the partnership is really starting to blend. The trot was expressive and the canter uphill with great changes. As this horse develops the strength to carry the weight more behind he will really be one fancy grand prix horse. The test was mistake free and the pair looked totally at home, but perhaps there were a few times where he could have shown a little more lightness in hand and self carriage but this will develop for sure. In second place was Rodney Martin with a 69.74% on SPH Sonata Hit. The test was calmer than in the PSG and mistake free but still some of the preparations and endings of the movements were a little untidy and again some moments where he was against the hand. Expressive and clam but clean and no mistakes. There is still room here for more marks and Rodney is looking at home at the FEI classes now but I am sure he still prefers the young horse classes where he can be a little more bold and carefree!

In third place were Agent de Jeu - what an expressive and bold mover - and David Shoobridge, who is still getting the feel of this strong and powerful imported gelding. Unfortunately he is often not straight but likes to go in travers left position and with a lack of symmetry in the equality of the flexion and bend in the left and right lateral work. Perhaps this is exemplified when there is tension but when he accepts a better even contact the marks will be extraordinary. A score today from 73.2 from one to a 65.4% from another with an average of 68.21. A great horse and a great future. 

Nicole Tough and the prettiest gelding ever in Furst Tyme was 4^th on 67.58 and this horse who is not at all brave is starting to come out of his shell but still plenty more to come with great tempos and rhythm. Katina Smith and the bay, stockinged, Just Dance R was next with a way more punchy test today than we saw in the PSG, and then Mathew Dowsley and the grey Belcam Cadel with unfortunate one tempis in the sequential changes - enough to ruin a winning score - with Brett Parbery on the young Longvue Florencio, who is going to be great but still a little inattentive in the atmosphere, and then David Mackinnon with Johnny Depp. A very good job and again, just a few mistakes in the changes. In 9^th and 10^th were the two great stars First Famous for Lisa Martin, and the John Potter owned Silbermond with Rachael Downs on board; both came to grief in the canter work.

Silbermond becoming quite sensitive in the contact in the turn in canter to the centerline and then absolutely not having a bar of the half pass. Rachael had to walk trot and circle away for a second go but the rules have it that it would be an error for turning away and a mark for the first attempt at the movement, so that was seriously costly as was a similar feeling in the first pirouette. This horse is a sensation but he is a delicate chap and sensitive, and this is what you need for the Grand Prix champion material so you simply have to get on and gain confidence and this he is. Lisa too came to grief at the first pirouette and trotted and then made a couple of pirouettes to get organized and then trotted again and no change after the extended canter. It is so easy to lose marks with a few small mistakes!! Still fantastic horses for the future. It was interesting to see that 1, 2, 3, 6, 7,and 8 placing’s were all taken up with male riders… go the boys!!!!!

The IRT Advanced tour was won overall by the best little bay, Dresden by Damsey and ridden by Alycia Targa. This pocket rocket made two wonderful tests for a 1^st and a 2^nd and in the second was beaten by less that 0.1% His trot work is so engaged and with plenty of knee and air that doesn’t falter in the lateral work, with great half passes. His changes are all great and clean and the sitting and balance in the pirouettes was easy to see. He is a spunky little horse with a wonderful spirit about him and Alycia rides a greatly accurate and prepared test. For only seven, this is a great horse for the future and already has piaffe and passage and one tempi changes. It’s time to take time and establish a great future for this talented horse. Runner up was Nicole Tough with Borsato, a wonderfully cadenced grey imported gelding. Nicole also showed this horse in a super way and never missed a preparation and the adjustability and transitions clear and organized. They had a 1^st and a 6^th and a great horse. In third spot overall was Boronia HG for Elliot Patterson and this mare by Breitling placed 3^rd and 4^th. She is a feisty chestnut mare with long and open paces and is starting to show better collection but at times a little short in the neck with better balance over the hind leg the wither will elevate and then look out as she can really move and has great changes. A new one on the block on this side of Australia as he was is west Oz is Kalimna Emblem and he is by the NZ sire Anamour. What a talented horse again with sharp active paces and good expression. He can be a little determined at times but Nina Boyd, who is riding him at the moment for owner Wendy Lorincz, has him well and truly on song. Another exciting, compact horse with a great talent for the work. The field was amazing and when you go down the ranking it was Show Master then French Open then HV Her Highness then lets Jazzabit and Revelwood Destiny followed by the likes of Judy Dierks and Highlight Australia then Remi Bezlebub and lady Sinatra. It was just a fantastic class and well ridden tests.

The Grand Prix Special saw yet again another win for Brett Parbery and the black Weltmeyer gelding DP Weltmeiser. Another mistake free test and so even and round throughout; again the piaffe was the best yet. This pair seems to gain in confidence and understanding with each start, and they simply gain more and more marks. The only glitch was when Rabbit decided he might just get the right pirouette done as fast as possible despite saying you will do it slowly!! It was a compromise and all good. To think it wasn’t so long ago that when it came to the one tempis everyone held their breath and waited, but now they are as straight as a gun barrel and honest and easy. Good riding and well deserved win and by 3 % with a 69.57%. Second was Bates Antonello for John Thompson representing NZ. Antonello needs a gold medal as he just tries his heart out in every movement and is one tough horse and takes it all on board. Tough is what he is and he knows his work, having not only competed and trained so well with Louisa Hill, but was also with Patrik Kittel for some time before returning to New Zealand and now with John Thompson. John is relatively inexperienced at this level and at times it showed, especially in the passage when it was perhaps more like forward piaffe and lacked ground cover but this will come for sure.  The rest of the test Antonello went around like a Trojan for John and a score of 66.9% to be just ahead of Mary Hanna and Umbro and placing’s from 2^nd to 8^th! I am sure freestyle night may see smoke (or even fire) as Mary won’t lie down, and if there is one test Mary excels at it is the freestyle!! Then came Luxor 118 for Kate Farrell and such a great combination. These two are a real treat to watch. Next was Utopian Cardinal for Heath Ryan then the spunky little chestnut form NZ in Vom Feinsten for Julie Brougham, and with a 76% in the freestyle for this combination at the NZ horse of the year show it will be one freestyle competition and all out to win!! For sure Michelle Baker will be thrilled to be in front of Regardez Moi then Diamantina and Amicelli Gold!!!  It was a strong class indeed and now it will be all out to prove a few points in the freestyle competition on Saturday night. It will be a very serious showdown!!!

The Inter B (can you imagine it!) was won by… Brett Parbery, and this time on PPH Zeppelin and what a great test to just pip Rozzie Ryan and Jarrah R’s 66.93% and 66.10% respectively. Brett lost a lot of marks in the one tempis when Zeppelin decided it was way too hard, and he had actually never ever heard of the exercise!  Rozzie rode a great test on Jarrah and they get better and better at every competition; they just keep climbing up the ladder progressively and so calmly. Rozzie is one great operator and her horses are all so in tune with her. 3^rd went to Karingal Anastasia for Sharna Glover, and some good work, but as of yet the piaffe is not so great. Still a very talented mare and getting better as well. In 4^th was the black stallion Stedinger with Gina Montgomery. This elegant stallion perhaps lacked a little activity and had a mistake in the one tempis but he too is green at this level and showing all the elements to get to Grand Prix soon. The final top three were decided from the second rounds of the 3, 4 and 5 year old young horses classes and these three will be ridden by Anna Sophie Fielbelkorn (GER). There was also fantastic talent on display in the Para equestrian classes and pony classes.

The competition was strong indeed, and for all the results visit snafflebytes.com.au. The percentages from each of the judges for each individual horse are available there as well as seeing where each judge placed each combination. The sport is growing and so is the quality of the horses, the quality of the training and riding and the final day of competition at SIEC will be FANTASTIC!!

To view the rest of Roger’s beautiful photos from day two, visit the gallery here.