Simone Pearce and Destano Set New Australian Grand Prix Freestyle Record

By Kirsty Pasto/Equestrian Australia

Simone Pearce and the black stallion Destano have done it again and set another Australian record!

Overnight they set the Australian record for the Grand Prix Freestyle by scoring 81.385% in Budapest (HUN) at the Pilisjászfalu CDI-W competition, also claiming overall victory in the class!

"Thank you Destano. Wow today was a magic day for us. This is a new personal best for us as well as a new Australian Grand Prix Freestyle record," described Simone.

"He felt so happy and absolutely with me as we danced through our brand new Freestyle. I really just couldn’t be more thrilled with him this show, it’s been an amazing preparation for Tokyo (we hope). Thanks to everyone who makes this possible. I’m humbly grateful for everyday to be working with these wonderful horses."

The latest result means the 29-year-old Simone and her top ranked Destano hold all three Australian Grand Prix records – of 76.261% in the Grand Prix and 77.894% for the Grand Prix Special, and now 81.385% for the Grand Prix Freestyle.

This also marked the fourth straight win for the combination over the past six weeks.

The Grand Prix Freestyle record was previously held by Olympian Mary Hanna and her mare Calanta with a score of 80.145%, which was achieved at Willinga Park Dressage by the Sea in 2020.

Simone Pearce and Destano, pictured here competing in 2020.

© CDI Achleiten / Michael Rzepa

The success in Hungary on Destano has added yet another accolated to Simone's trove after dominating the show over the weekend. Simone also won the CDI4* Grand Prix Special on Double Joy with a score of 70.553% in the horse's first ever Grand Prix Special competition, a day after winning the Grand Prix with a score of 71.826% which also qualified the combination for consideration for the Australian team at Tokyo.

In addition to Destano and Double Joy, Simone has also qualified Amandori for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Both Destano and Amandori are owned by the German stud Gestüt Sprehe GmbH and Simone, while Double Joy is owned by Sabine Rüben.

Results from the competition in Budapest can be found here.

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