TS Firestorm finds his strength in the Intermediate II
Matthew Dowsley presented TS Firestorm, owned by Cheryl Smith, in the Bell Partner’s Finance Intermediate II. The imposing gelding made only his second attempt at this level, showing improved strength and maturity for 71.294%. The one-times changes — previously an Achilles’ heel — were greatly improved, and the piaffe transitions demonstrated much greater balance and rhythm.
“I’ve had such an amazing journey with this wonderful horse. His trainability, being by Foundation, is inspirational. He’s a real trier and today he gave his all. He’s never been a great one for enjoying the heat, and neither am I! I was ecstatic with the way he put the test together for his second attempt, and I’m so pleased for his dedicated owner, Cheryl Smith. We’ve shared a fabulous journey together with this wonderful horse, Gino. He’s not far off Grand Prix now, and I really look forward to that day,” says Matthew.
Osaka P dominates the seven-year-old division
The A.E.I.E seven-year old class was one of particular interest, showcasing several exciting prospects with great futures ahead. Victoria Luxford guided TS Soulmate, a large black gelding, through an expressive test. The big moving horse has been developing strongly over the season, and his progress continues to impress.
It was the imported stallion Osaka P ridden by Jess Dertell who convincingly won the class on a score of 74.925%. This horse has an outstanding canter with an incredible ability to collect and sit! He has all the expression that any Grand Prix horse would want and as a seven-year-old, he shows the potential to go all the way.
Katina Smith and BC Chilli Pepper win the Prix St Georges
The Kohnke’s Own Prix St Georges was a class for the true dressage enthusiast to enjoy — featuring a lineup of high-class horses, riders, and polished performances. The winner was BC Chilli Pepper ridden by Katina Smith with 69.471%. The expressive chestnut gelding, bred, broken, and trained by Katina herself, delivered a beautiful mistake free test. His pirouettes could perhaps have been a touch tighter, but his expressive changes and strong collected trot work stood out. It was a deserving win for a long partnership built on patience and perseverance.
“I’ve known Chilli since he was born — he’s a seriously interesting character with a vivid imagination! He’s always been a little suspicious of the world around him. It’s been a long road. He’s always had wonderful talent and super movement, but helping him learn to focus and really understand the sport hasn’t been easy. I was so pleased with his test today — he stayed with me all the way. There’s no question, he can do even better, but he’s becoming more solid in his understandings and in how he deals with challenges during the test. He actually helped me out today and I felt so proud of him. It means a lot to win at Nationals at this level, especially in such a strong field,” says Katina.
In second place was BB Niccolo, ridden by Rebecca Rook, scoring 69.000%. The elegant chestnut gelding showcased his lightness, elasticity, and expressive way of going. Though a relatively new partnership, the pair has shown tremendous improvement in recent months, and their performance confirmed their growing connection and potential.
“Niccolo is by James 007 out of a great mare of Caroline Henley’s, Partou, who was an extremely expressive, hot, and excitable mare — and those genes have definitely been passed down! He has all the talent in the world! I haven’t been riding him for very long, so it’s been about giving him confidence and allowing him to find his balance — when he does, he’s really quite an exceptional horse to ride. This was only his third Prix St Georges start, so to finish second in such a strong, quality field makes me very proud. It’s great to be back in Australia and competing again after spending time in Europe working with young horses and show jumpers. I’m really enjoying being part of the sport here and proud of how my horses are developing. Dressage can sometimes be a difficult sport to interpret in terms of what the judges are looking for, but all you can do is ride to the best of your ability, make the most of every test, and be happy with your horse — and today, I truly am,” shares Rebecca.
Charlie Sheen proves his pony power
Sophie Artup and Charlie Sheen shone in the Khonke’s Own Pony Prix St Georges, scoring 69.44% Judged by the same panel as the horse Prix St Georges class, their score would have been good enough — an incredible achievement! Charlie Sheen is an outstanding pony, beautifully produced and trained by Sophie, and this super result is a testament to their partnership.
A closer look at the scores
Some of the placings in the Prix St Georges were incongruous, leaving a few riders, coaches, and owners somewhat bewildered at times. The sport of Dressage is by nature subjective, but seeing horses placed first by one judge and nearly last by another on several occasions is quite difficult to get your head around. There is no question, riders know when they make mistakes and when they produce good work are only too willing to accept these huge differences in scores. What was potentially frustrating for riders today was the apparent reluctance of judges to show greater range in their scoring between good and not good work. As a consequence the marks became very centred around 65%, which produces placings that don’t necessarily reflect the differences between one another. It all boils down to getting the best judges from all over the world to come to Australia to give Australian riders the best feedback.
Every judge, no matter where they are from or their experience, gives their all and the sport is respectful of this, but equally, there is a shared desire among riders to keep raising the standard of judging and feedback at home.
Day one at the 2025 Australian Dressage Championships provided a fitting stage for Australia’s best combinations to display their talent and dedication. From the young horse ranks to established stars, the standard of riding and the quality of horses reflected the ongoing growth of the sport. The camaraderie among riders, owners, and supporters was evident throughout the event, reminding all involved why this championship remains such a highlight on the national calendar.
