This year the event is hosting a CDI-W Grand Prix and Freestyle, which will act as the Pacific League World Cup Final, so there is certainly excitement in the air.
The CDI horses completed the trot up today, with the seven-strong CDI-W field all passing. We now look forward to watching these competitors take to the arena on Friday for the CDI-W Grand Prix, where they will be looking to qualify for the CDI-W Grand Prix Freestyle on Saturday night. Stay tuned!
In action today were several classes, from Young Horse to Inter II and many in between.
Small Tour
The Ramos Sport Small Tour Championship kicked off with the Prix St Georges test. Alexis Hellyer on the gorgeous eight-year-old Floriscount H stallion, Fidibus, took the win with 70.735%. Close behind was Charlie Welsh on the Dante Weltino stallion, Dante Quando OLD with 70.637%. Third went to Mark Kiddle riding Carolyn Lieutenant’s Ferdi I with 67.500%.
In the Pony PSG, Bettina Kopetzky and San Sebastian placed first on 66.422%, ahead of Isobelle Muller and Dynomite on 62.941%.
Isobelle and Dynomite have an impressive backstory. The black gelding was purchased for just $1500 as an unstarted five-year-old and trained from the get-go by a then-13-year-old Isobelle; together they have reached Small Tour. What an achievement!
Medium Championship
Tanisha Ryan and the stunning Sevenoaks Fenrys won both of the Berwick & District Dressage Club Medium tests with super scores of 71.825% and 72.372% respectively to secure the Medium Championship. For a horse that is only just turned six and at only its second start at Medium, these two are surely a combination to watch!
Second place in the 4.2 went to Lizzie Wilson-Fellows and Let’s Chance It on 71.554%, while David Shoobridge finished third with the young Vitalis stallion Vittorio DS on 70.135%. In the 4.3, second went to AOR rider Lorraine Wohling and HV Duke on 70.770%, while Lizzie Wilson-Fellows and Let’s Chance It finished third on 69.295%.
The Reserve Championship title was ultimately claimed by Lizzie Wilson-Fellows and the divine Lets Chance It. Third overall went to David Shoobridge and Vittorio DS. Fourth overall was Jordan Smith and Peny Hill Park Francesca, fifth overall was Lindsey Ware and Viconia KR, and rounding out the top six in the Berwick and District Dressage Club Medium Championship was Jessica Dertell riding Motion Equines, Daminia LP.
Off The Track
Today also saw the Racing Victoria Off The Track Championships for Elementary and Preliminary.
In the Elementary, Amie Hourigan riding Skittle Bomb had a clean sweep for two wins on scores of 61.250% and 64.573% to secure her the overall title.
In the 3.2, second went to Hayley Smith and Flutoni on 60.813%, while third went to Macey Devlin and GCE High Distinction on 60.063%. In the 3.3, Macey Devlin and GCE High Distinction were second on 60.793% and Hayley Smith was third aboard Flutoni on 60%. Therefore, the Reserve Championship title came down to a countback with Macey Devlin securing second overall and Hayley placing third.
The Preliminary 1.2 saw a win to HRH Harry, ridden by Rosalie Evans to a score of 70.357%. Amy Slayter and EHR Marchbank, an impressive four-year-old who recently gained his Dressage & Jumping with the Stars young horse qualification, placed second on 68.929%, while third went to Emily Aitkenhead and Golden Chai on 66.429%.
The 1.3 went to Michelle Mathlin and Translater on 71.563%, ahead of Emily Aitkenhead and Golden Chai on 69.063%. In third place was the lovely Wildwood Typhoon ridden by Stephanie Waras, achieving 66.771%.
Emily Aitkenhead and Golden Chai secured first overall in the Racing Victoria Off The Track Preliminary Championship. Reserve Champion was Rosalie Evans riding HRH Harry. Third overall was Stephanie Waras riding Wildwood Typhoon, while equal fourth place went to Michelle Mathlin riding Translator and Amy Slayter riding ERH Marchbank. Rounding out the top six in the Championship was Georgina Gubbins riding Feelings Mutual. It is great to see the careers these horses are having in their life after racing!
Inter II
In the LuxeHorse Intermediate II, Amy Bachmann and the beautiful SWS Debutante secured the win with a score of 67.549%. Second was Jayne Lawrence riding Don Bravour with a score of 66.029%, and third was Jackson Stern riding Templeton Fursteniro with a score of 60.931%.
Para Equestrian
Kelly Ffrost and Lord Hemingway were the winners of the Horseland Para Equestrian Grade III Grand Prix A test, and in the Horseland Para Equestrian Grade II Grand Prix A test it was Maddison Cooke riding Byalee Magic II who claimed the win. The Para Equestrian Grade IV Grand Prix A went to Darcy MacAulay and Parklands Faltango.
Young Horses & Ponies
The Animal Therapeutics Five Year Old Young Horse Round 1 saw two combinations breaking the 80% barrier. First was Lizzie Wilson Fellows riding Hollands Bend Secrets Out for a score of 85.800%, with a highlight of 9.0 for perspective. Second was Justine Greer riding Kerry Mack’s Mayfield Vibrance with a score of 84.600% and a highlight of 9.0 for canter. Third went to Antony Bartlett riding Fletcher VDS with a score of 75.600% and a highlight of 8.0 for canter.
Toni Webb and Freemans Lodge Global finished on a massive score of 89.200% in the Future Farms Five Year Old Pony Round 1, with a highlight of three marks over 9.0! With a 9.3 for trot, 9.0 for submission and 9.8 for perspective, this is definitely a pony to keep an eye on! In second was Lily Diss riding Anna Bridges, Dance on Air BHI with a score of 75.600%, and in third was Robyn Pearce (mother of dual Olympian Simone Pearce) riding Gaylene Whitten’s Kiuna Park Supernova with a score of 73.800%.
The Westernport Dressage Club Seven Year Old Round 1 was won by Olivia Gillespie riding the fabulous Nottingham GP with a score of 75.348%, and in second was Naomi Gollings riding Lillian Savage’s Keystone Furstin Class for 69.245%.
Tomorrow will see the commencement of the CDI classes and hopefully kinder weather for all.
