Saddleworld AUS Dressage Champs - Day 3

by Roger Fitzhardinge

So it was the Australian Sports Commission CDI Grand Prix-W that held the most prestige over the days competitions and it was a win to Diamantina and Maree Tomkinson and what a smile to a face it was. This mare was great and with a score of 67.9% she was a mere 0.2% in front of Prestige VDL who was in turn only 0.4% in front of Rozzie Ryan and GV Bullwinkle. Maree was a 1^st and a 10^th!!!!! (72.0 to 64.8) Sheridyn a 2^nd to a 5^th ( 70.2 to a 65.5)and Rozzie a 1^st to a 9^th!!!!!! (68.2 to a 64.1)

Maree and Diamantina show where the high marks come into to play © Roger Fitzhardinge

Unfortunately the inconsitancies continued throughout the list with a super expressive test for Mary Hanna and Sancette to be 1^st to 9^th from 69.3 to 63.4!!!! Tango and Caroline Wagner a 70.3 to be 1^st and a 64.4 to be 7^th!!!!!!! It was simply one of the most confusingly judged classes and I pity the selectors, the owners, the riders and the trainers to make head nor tail from this class. There was a lot of discussion to be had and the results from that discussion will rear its head tomorrow night at the Freestyle for sure!

Sancette shows the crowd his beautiful passage © Roger Fitzhardinge

All that can be said was that there were some great tests deserving of the top marks but who was the best is a mystery when you look at the scores other than the outcome to Diamantina, who deserved the win with wonderfully expressive changes and elastic and swinging passage. This mare shows what the judges like and now the piaffe is so true and there, whereas in the past the reason for the lower marks was due to the modest piaffe. Now it's so much improved, but can you imagine the marks are not much better at all? This doesn’t make sense. You can analyse the scores and everyone can have a chance but that’s not really helpful in the plight to WEG. We need a more definite WE ARE LOOKING FOR X…Y…Z!!

The horse that took the eye for improving was UQG Alladin for Anjanette Harten, a great test and this black gelding danced his way through the test with such a workmanlike attitude it was great. Vanessa Way who is all the way from NZ has made a huge improvement since being spotted at the Horse of the Year show in NZ, and showed more uphill and self carriage. A good test and what a great competitor and inspiringly absolute Lady, scores from 64 to 67.

From NZ NRM KH Arvan and the ever wonderfully demure and fun loving Vanessas Way © Roger Fitzhardinge 

The six year old class was a real tussle between SS Dante and CP Dresden and a 8.16 and a 8.08 merely separating  the winner SS Dante. It was a great class and these two horse really show being in a good way with the training scale in mind. They are both wonderful talents for the future in this sport.

The Mulawa Intermedaire I saw a great win to the Tor ridden Lauries As. What a great test with flamboyant trot that demanded attention and second here to Robali Razzzamatazz on 68.92 a mere 0.6% behind. It was a great test full of flamboyance and only spoilt by a miscommunication coming in to the first pirouette. As every competitor knows a little mistake is very costly in minor marks maybe but major placings. The competition strong but the riders as a whole opted to play it safe! Glogau and Victoria Welch were third and a better uphill feeling but still an elastic connection is what is missing to be at the very top but improving every competition.

Brett Parberry was 4^th with Aber Hallo and Gina Monrtgomery was fifth with Wallmeyer and a percentage of 68.08. Again its interesting to see that every judge had a different winner but the scores so close this can easily happen when the c ompetitoion is so tight and easily seen.

Brett Parbery and Aber Hallo 29 in the Inter I © Roger Fitzhardinge

In the Advanced Champion and what a great and strong class and it was here that Daniella starred with World Royal to be Champion with Nicole Tough in the runner up position! What a star filled class and soon the move to the FEI ranks.  There is a lot of eyes on the every move of World Royal!  He is simply one seriously amzing horse and for sure the likes of this young horse are rarely seen anywhere in the world!  Judith Dierks was 2^nd in one and 4^th in the other and just missed out on being runner up to her daughter with Diamond Star. Judith riding with a really bruised leg after being knocked over by a horse shying at the flapping tent! There were great tests from the likes of Emma Youngman, Di Jenkyn, Lisa Martin, Mathew Dowsley, Katrina Smith and if you look at the results it was such a close and fierce test. Overall this Advanced class was really strong and look out here……its exciting and good for our future.

Don De Sandro and Matthew Dowsley © Roger Fitzhardinge

The Prydes easiFeeds FEI young rider was won by Morgen Duel and the Pzzazz  gelding Florinzz with a great 68 % from Rosanna Relton 2^nd on 66.7% and Four Winds Bombadier in hot pursuit, then Victoria Stuckey and Mayfield Miracle to be back in third place, and all 9 horses here on very close scores.

Victoria Welch and Brentanus went ahead in the Big Tour Entry Competition to win the class on 63.6% It was a day of interesting marks and judging and something in it for all!!

Tomorrow is another day at the office and sure the horses will be a little tired after all the work but it will be calmer and more accurate tests as oppose to the boring tests that getting middle of the range marks. Well done to all judges it's no easy task and when there are inconsistancies in frames and tempos and the like, it's not always easy to pin point the problem when there are a few to see and then the marks vary as it depends on the weight you see mostly in each movement.

I'm looking forward to Day 4 and all the Freestyles, make sure you tune into the EQ Life Live Tv livestream, which is brought to us by John Deere and Saddleworld from 10am.

More images in the Gallery here.