Will Matthew and Mysterious Star. Image: LL Foto.
CDI3* Grand Prix in Hagen: Zepter holds the lead in the interim
It was a truly international vibe at Hof Kasselmann on Thursday with team jackets from all around the world lining up around the jumping stadium to support their fellow countrymen and women.
The CDI3* Grand Prix got underway with the first 41 of a total of 49 entries in the class. There are plenty of high-profile names looking to make an impression this close to Olympic selection. One of them was Danish rider Nanna Skodborg-Merrald and her European Championship partner Blue Hors Zepter, who scored 78.739% to hold the provisional lead after the first part of the Grand Prix concluded Thursday afternoon. It was the first competition since December 2023 for the son of Blue Hors Zack, but with this score the pair made clear where its plans are headed. Second place went to Swede Patrik Kittel on the stallion Jovian on 74.783%.
Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Blue Hors Zepter. Image: Foto Rüchel/CDI Hagen.
“It was amazing to have Zepter back in the ring,” said Nanna Skodborg Merrald. “That was the goal and also to have a clear, safe round. Nothing crazy special, but he felt really nice and was happy and wanted to do it. The plan to ride here came up a month ago, because the facilities are always great in Hagen. The footing is so good and that’s really important to me this close to Paris.”
Will Matthew is the highest placed of the Aussies in 14th, scoring 69.434% with Mysterious Star; it was a PB CDI Grand Prix score for the pair. Jess Dertell is in 18th with Cennin on 68.087%, improving on their first two outings in Europe, while Mary Hanna is in 34th place with Ivanhoe on 64.087%.
The entire U.S. Olympic Short List is going head to head in Hagen for the first time and five of the seven shortlisted combinations made their presence felt this afternoon. Endel Ots held the lead on Bohemian for a long time, they posted 71.891 percent in their first competition outside the United States and finished today in fourth place. Ashley Holzer and Hansel got close in their European debut — 71.457% — but it wasn’t until another ZEN Equestrian owned horse, the Apache son Helix under Adrienne Lyle pipped them to finish in third place in the preliminary standings. Nanna Skodborg-Merrald completes the top six on her young Grand Prix star Blue Hors Znickers. On Friday from 8.10 am local time, the final eight riders will start in the Grand Prix.
“I was really happy with my test,” said Endel Ots. “It’s the first time showing the Grand Prix in Europe and I was quite nervous in the warm-up. But I had to pretend that I wasn’t and it worked, I really had fun. Normally I don’t smile so much in tests, but I did today. It felt very at home, I really love the horse. He’s such a good boy: I took him for a hand-walk this morning, warmed him for 15 minutes and then went in. I’ve only ridden him for four months now and each time I go in the ring I learn a new little thing about him. I’m just very thankful to be here. It’s awesome to have the whole U.S. group here all together supporting each other. It’s so cool to also have the Para riders in the same barn!”
“That was amazing, I’m so excited! Hansel hasn’t done a lot and he hasn’t travelled a lot,” said Ashley Holzer. “P.J. (Rizvi) and I share him and Katherine (Bateson Chandler) is the most amazing coach. It’s just so fun to come to a show and feel him just grow in confidence. He was so scared at the beginning and it was tricky riding him through things. It’s rolling the right way now, he’s getting that focus in the ring now. I cannot thank the Kasselmann family more, they have been the most wonderful hosts at this show. We have to walk a little bit to the ring, which makes it more of a championship type of show. I think that’s super important, we don’t have a lot of venues where we can have this sort of atmosphere.”
Interim results from the CDI3* Grand Prix can be found here.
Para dressage riders in action
It is also the first time that Hof Kasselmann has hosted a Para Dressage event and the first class to go is the CPEDI3* Grade III Grand Prix Test A, where Australian Emma Booth will be in action.
“Our preparation has been a bit rocky up to this point with me getting injured just under six weeks ago, but we are glad to be here and give it a go,” said Emma. “We found out about this Para Dressage show when we started planning the trip to come over. It’s awesome to have it run at the same time as the CDI with everybody here in the one venue. I visited Hof Kasselmann for Horses & Dreams a couple of years ago, but this year it’s my first time riding here. We have a little Aussie team here, which is great. It’s nice to have some familiar faces around and feel part of the team. We just had the horse inspection and we are competing Friday and Saturday.”
Australian Para Dressage riders in action on Friday, 7 June:
CPEDI3* Grand Prix A Grade III:
Emma Booth and Saimir: 10.06am local time, 6.06pm AEST
CPEDI3* Grand Prix A Grade V:
Melissa Cannon and Quentino 43: 3.58pm local time, 11.58pm AEST
CPEDI3* Grand Prix A Grade IV:
Kylie Christian and Ivan Carlos: 5.49pm local time, 1.49am Saturday AEST
Watch the action on ClipMyHorse.TV here.
Source: Event press release / edited by EQ Life
Published 7 June 2024.
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