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Dressage action underway at Sydney CDI

Three days down at the Sydney CDI and there has been no shortage of dressage action at Sydney International Equestrian Centre...

Adele Severs

Published 28 Apr 2023

Dressage action underway at Sydney CDI

By Equestrian Life

Three days down at the Sydney CDI and there has been no shortage of dressage action at Sydney International Equestrian Centre.

On Thursday, the first of the CDI3* classes, the Grand Prix, saw a Kiwi quinella. Melissa Galloway and her 2022 FEI World Championship horse, Windermere J’Obei W, scored 70.891% to take the win ahead of compatriots Wendi Williamson and Don Vito MH on 70.435%. Alinta Veenvliet and Desperanza were third with a PB of 67.717%, while FEI World Cup Pacific League winners Charlotte Phillips and CP Dresden were fourth on 66.174%.

Thursday’s Grand Prix CDN went to David McKinnon riding Carol Oatley’s Forlan to a score of 70.797%, with Alison Gill and the pony Hilken’s Denali second with 67.355%. Denali was super impressive holding his own against the big horses! Jessica Robinson was third riding Remi Beezlebub on 65.869%. The Inter A went to Serena Ireland and Royalty R on 68.873%, with Lexy Stansfield and BC Romanov second on 66.765%, and Mark Kiddle third riding Penny Hill Park Sophia on 65.735%.

David McKinnon and Forlan, winners of the CDN Grand Prix. Image: Roger Fitzhardinge.

The highly anticipated CDI1* Prix St Georges saw many impressive performances on Thursday, none more so than winners Brett Parbery and Iresias L, who scored 72.588%. Second place went to Matthew Dowsley and Fribaldi on 70.667%, while third went to Dave McKinnon and Boulevard on 70.588%.

The CDI1* Prix St Georges placegetters. Image: Roger Fitzhardinge.

The CDI1* Prix St Georges placegetters. Image: Roger Fitzhardinge.

Dave McKinnon, Kylie Riddell and Matthew Dowsley. Image: Roger Fitzhardinge.

Dave McKinnon, Kylie Riddell and Matthew Dowlsey; Kylie owns both Fribaldi and Boulevard, who were ridden by Matthew and Dave respectivley to second and third place in the CDI1* Prix St Georges. Both horses scored over 70%. Image: Roger Fitzhardinge.

Wednesday’s CDN Prix St Georges was a large and hotly contested class, with Hillary McGregor topping the field with Karabil Park Sir Jazz on 72.882%. Second place went to Karen Blythe and Sonic K on 68.647%, while Emma Weel and Bellaphina were third on 68.559%. On Thursday, Matthew Lord and Remi Vigneron won the CDN Inter I on 69.706%, from Hillary McGregor and Karabil Park Sir Jazz on 68.48%, and Karen Blythe with Sonic K in third on 68.284%.

Also on Wednesday was the Inter II, won by Alexis Hellyer and Daenarys on 71.029%. Alison Gill and the Hilken’s Denali were second against the horses on that occasion as well with 68.029%, while Emily James and Platypus Run Firenz were third on 65.706%.

International para dressage

The second FEI Para Dressage event of the year kicked off proceedings on Tuesday at the Sydney CDI, with CPEDN, CPEDI1*, CPEDI2* and CPEDI3* classes on offer to accommodate riders at various stages of their competitive journeys.

Held Tuesday and Wednesday, the CPEDI3* classes offered combinations the opportunity to post potential qualifying scores ahead of the 2024 Paris Paralympics. In the Grade IV, Helen Batson and Fayani scored 68.148% to edge out Sharon Jarvis and Jostle R on 67.963% in the FEI Para Grand Prix Test A, with both achieving PBs. Third place went to Claire Graham and Fürst Olli 3 on 67.87%, while fourth went to Kylie Christian and Bellaire Cannavaro on 64.537%. In the Grand Prix Test B, Helen again claimed the win, this time with 67.928%, ahead of Kylie on 67.297%, Sharon on 66.441%, and Claire on 65.18% – all of which were PBs for this test!

In the Grade V, the FEI Para Grand Prix Test A went to Mietta Innes-Irons and Schonherz on 63.547% to claim the win ahead of Stuart Drysdale and Quality Street on 62.179%, with both combinations achieving PB scores. In the FEI Para Grand Prix Test B, Mietta again claimed the win, with Stuart in second place.

Maddison Cooke and Byalee Magic II won the Grade II tests, scoring 67.644% in the FEI Para Grand Prix Test A and 64.667% in Test B, with Victoria Davies and Joyero JF III second on both occasions.

In the Grade III, both FEI Para Grand Prix Tests A and B went to Ella Newbury and Axon Magic on 59.556% and 57.833%, while in the Grade I, the FEI Para Grand Prix Tests A and B went to Stella Barton and Falcon Disco Hit on 60.556% and 56.805%.

In other para results, Grade V rider Noella Angel won the CPEDI1* FEI Para Novice Tests A and B with Jackabite on PBs of 61.917% and 60.25%, and also the CPEDI2* FEI Para Intermediate Tests A and B with Mallee Jack on PB scores of 60.893% and 54.258%.

Grade IV rider Samantha Hawes and Gotico Park Estralo won the CPEDI2* FEI Para Intermediate Tests A and B on PBs of 62.533% and 57.527%; and Amylie Hines and EA Exquisite won the Grade III CPEDI2* FEI Para Intermediate Tests A and B on PBs of 66.349% and 63.925%.

Sui Watts, who was recently selected for the Virtus Global Games, won the Grade IV CPEDN FEI Para Novice Tests A and B on scores of 61.733% and 59.833%, riding Gem Park Guess.

Young horses and ponies in action

Thursday saw round one of the young horse and pony classes take place. The first round of the 4YO Young Pony class saw Llinez Phantom Diamond score 75% to win, ahead of Alison Gill and Glenhill Mr Hollywood on 73.8%. The 5YO Young Pony class went to Mr Right Now, on a score of 80.6% for Caitlyn Porter, while the 6YO Young Pony class went to Andrew Buckley and Noble Dynasty on 81.4%.

The first round of the 4YO Young Horse saw a tie for first place between Jazdan Formidable, ridden by Hannah Rockwell, and the recently crowned Dressage & Jumping With The Stars Champion of Champions, Selected, ridden by Elliot Patterson; both scored impressively with 85.2%. The 5YO Young Horse went to Glenhill Vivid, ridden by Riley Alexander to a great score of 84.2%, while the 6YO Young Horse went to Furstenglanz, ridden by Caitlin Scott and with another big score of 84.4%. The 7YO Young Horse class was won by Franzisco RW with Johannes Holtzhausen in the saddle, achieving a score of 75.179%.

Young riders make their mark

Thursday also saw the young riders take to the arena at SIEC. The CDI Under-25 Inter II went to Jessica Dertell and Eskara de Jeu on 66.294%, with Tanisha Ryan in second riding Prequel to a PB score of 65.147%, and Dana Krause third with Taittinger VDS on 62%.

The CDI Young Rider Team Test went to Kodi Tupper and MacArthur Bel Air on an impressive 70.049%, with Jessica Dertell and Gladstone MH second on 69.020% and Kodi also third with Endless Dream on 68.726%.

The CDI Junior Team Test was won by Rosemary Heagney and Redgum James 007 on 65.555%. Second place went to Kimberley Webb and Dicavalli Decadance on 65.258%, and Brooke Ellis was third riding Mountain Creek Valia on 64.748%.

Comptition continues at the Sydney CDI today and tomorrow.

Full results from the event can be found here.

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