Lone Joergensen and Corinna, winners of the Grand Prix CDI-W.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
Yesterday evening, the Grand Prix CDI-W saw some outstanding performances across the 14-horse field – and there were a few new faces at the level, which is always exciting!
First out was Lone Joergensen and GP CDI debutant Corinna, for a score of 69.348%. The quality of the extended trot was simply sensational and the transitions in and out amazing as are all the ways that this international rider rides through the test at this level. Lone has certainly not forgotten the way to ride the test here, despite her lack of starts at the level in the previous few years. The transitions, especially to piaffe, and the improvement since the last event is obvious. She made no mistakes in the test and despite what appeared to all a fabulous test the marks seemed really low for what appeared to the well-educated viewers. Lone did win, but not with all the judges – and why not is a good question.
Riley Alexander and the Farrell-owned Larenso sored 63.913% and 12th at their first CDI GP. This is a beautiful horse well ridden; just a green moment and with Riley who is still inexperienced at this level was costly. However an exciting combination. Great canter pirouettes. In the first piaffe, he made a roughish transition and the miscommunication meant Lorenso cantered. No piaffe really and no transition out, then absolutely no passage and then no transition to canter. That’s a small mistake not corrected, that influenced 4 individual marks. Costly to say the least and they were on 72% before the mistake and then 61% after that! It happens but what a great potential for the bigger percentages.
Sally Rizzuto and the Vicky and Alan Newham-owned Diamond Star scored 67.304% for 4th. Relatively new partnership here and got all the ones and twos, and a really good canter half-pass zigzag. A little bit keen and too much impulsion at times with a few mistakes into canter and a pirouette that was lacking jump, were costly mistakes. A good score nevertheless and one to watch in the Freestyle.
Sally Rizutto and Diamond Star.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
Emma Flavelle-Watts and Cabaret C scored 66.174% for 8th. Beautiful and sometimes a little tricky, beautiful in the frame, bold and uphill in the extended canter, very elastic moving. Tight in the first pirouette, but better in the second. The mare is going to be fantastic; she has done very few Grand Prix tests. Clean one tempi changes and what fabulous potential here.
Emma Flavelle-Watts and Cabaret C.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
Robert Schmerglatt and Brumali scored 61.587%. A very elegant tall horse, fluent half pass, lacking impulsion at times, and also clean ones. The piaffe and passage needed work and really with the lack of desire to move up into the bridle makes for a test that lacks interest. The passage really did not happen and so the lower marks, but all the same with a bit more enthusiasm this combination will get better marks.
Melinda Hart and the black Rubenstein stallion Richmond H scored 59.870%. A great partnership, improving the ride and bringing him on with better confidence and strength. Super transitions in piaffe/passage sequence. Tactfully ridden, as the horse was very keen to demonstrate its ones. The second pirouette was better than the first. It’s a shame that he gets a little strong in the bridle at times; a few costly mistakes cruelled this horse’s performance, but despite the mark the test was positive and showed some good moments.
Lesley-Anne Taylor with the Abanos gelding Amicelli Gold scored 64.283% for 11th. Exceptional piaffe and passage, and there is no question that he has a lot of talent… but for whatever the reason being, the judges seem not to agree that this part of his test is a really big highlight. There was a distinct lack of left flexion throughout the test, a resistance that is not usual. He was a little inconsistent in the contact and an unsettled frame did not help the marks flow. A super horse but still lacks that preparation and confidence. An exciting and flamboyant horse.
Maree Tomkinson and the beautiful brown mare, Donna Elena scored 67.065% for 5th. A very nice mare that made it look fluent and easy. Half pass to the left was better than right and the collected walk was confident. The passage could have shown a more expressive forehand, and then there was an error in the twos and the piaffe wasn’t the strongest. Maree always looks the part as does the mare, but today it all looked a little careful and as if the mare was ready to get up and go but Maree was a little conservative. Needless to say, I am sure Maree was as confused as all the spectators with placings from 1st to 9th! Not sure how this happens at this level but it JUST does!
Maree Tomkinson and Donna Elena.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
Sheridyn Ashwood with the perky bay gelding Fererro Chocolate Box scored 66.804% for 6th. This horse is much more confident than at previous events and has developed better self-carriage. Very nice twos, but then did 17 ones. He needed to sit more in the pirouettes, however the passage was very uphill. This gelding over the past few competitions has really improved and is more uphill and fluent than previously.
Mary Warren and Mindarah Park Raphael scored 65.130% for 9th. A super extended walk, however their weakness was the piaffe. Mary puts a mistake behind her and gets on with the job. Good first pirouette, good transitions in the trot work, but the horse anticipated piaffe on the centre line. Mary was very forward, but perhaps at times looked a little hurried and lacked that loose, elastic collection. As always, a great test making it all look easy and what a great position and feel she has!
Alycia Targa and CP Dresden scored 64.804% for 10th. This is a very expressive horse that tries really hard. The first halt was not square and he was not as energetic as he can be in the first half of the test. The pirouettes were a highlight, as was the extended walk, and the final centreline with the piaffe/passage/halt showed well. This pocket rocket has been really on fire over the past few competitions but today was not his best test. He lacked that get up off the floor and dance today, but don’t you worry the Freestyle is his thing!
Alycia Targa and CP Dresden.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
Fiona Selby and Tacita scored 67.913% for 3rd. Very good regular passage, good extended trot, beautiful passage to canter, great ones and the passage was a highlight. Tactfully ridden by Fiona. A shame that the mare showed some contact issues, especially in the canter zig-zag where the mare became really open and against the bridle. We have seen a whole lot better and with her Freestyle to great piano music tomorrow, they might just rock the placings. Super mare and just a few mistakes took the edge off a winning test.
Fiona Selby and Tacita.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
Sue Hearn and Remmington scored 66.239% for 7th. A super piaffe, and a nice way of going; very comfortable in the contact, with a great final centre line. The twos were not great and they aren’t always his thing! The canter zig zag lacked balance. Just a few glitches and perhaps a feeling of activity in the canter work didn’t help.
Wendi Williamson and Don Amour MH scored 69.087% for 2nd. Some really nice passage strides and clean twos but a little high behind, the piaffe a little weak and a more deliberate energy would help – though the basic way looks good. The passage on the centreline was the best. This horse did a much better test than at Boneo and deserved the marks, but perhaps the later draw helped a little.
NZ rider Wendi Williamson and Don Amour.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
Lone and Corinna were clear winners and there were some pretty classy and super people watching, including Harry Boldt and Francois Kasselmann to mention but a few. They were certainly impressed with the horses and were extremely positive in their comments about the top horses, enthusing that that could certainly gain more marks pretty easily!
Say no more!
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