Jayden Brown and Davinci L, winners of the PSG.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
By Roger Fitzhardinge
Willinga Park’s Dressage by the Sea – set to be the first CDI4* in Australia – has begun. The arenas are simply magnificent that is all you can say and the facilities just seem to get better and better. Even the weather is ideal today with some cloud cover and cooler conditions. It’s all full steam ahead for ten days of fun filled and quality dressage over two big weekends.
The Inter II class a saw Don Ruben the winner. A great test with more energy from him than we have sometimes seen, and one judge awarding 70%. A grin from ear to ear for Susan and a great test indeed for a final score of 68.824%.
In second place was Amicelli Gold and Leslie Ann Taylor. A final score of 68%. Looking at the trending half way through the test they were on the 76%, BUT then an error of course for sailing past the canter pirouette and enough to upset the concentration of the two and the marks tumbled with hurried, non-thinking mistakes! Such a shame as the judges too would be disappointed not to be able to continue with the marks. All the same the test that Susan rode was precise and well controlled and expressive.
In third place was Jess Robinson and Remi Beezelbub, who made a great test for a young horse and some really good canter work and appropriate marks. The test was well-supported and some good marks for all the horses.
The Inter A went to Catherine Chittenden and Neversfelde Sprinbok on 65.637%, from Breanna Tillitzki and Fursten Hit on 63.578%.
In the Medium 4A (Open) it was Robbie McKinnon who won with Silmarillion. This is a very exciting elegant leggy black horse by Smash Hit out of Florestan mare. A great score of 69.444%. In second was Rebecca Walshe and BHM Spanish Amor on 68.472% to be a mere 0.25 ahead of Elloise Devlin and Brimstone Florente, with Nicole Tough on Ferragamo fourth with scores here of 72% and a 63% for a total of 67.917%!
Robbie McKinnon and Silmarillion E, winners of the Medium.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
The Medium test had plenty of quality horses and some interesting scores and placings and there must have been a lot of difference in the shape of some of the horses from the front as compared to the side and that’s why it’s good to have the different views.
The AOR Medium 4A went to Holly Barnes and Rosabella R on 67.083%.
The Prix St Georges was some class to say the least! Early in the draw saw Jayden Brown on the fabulously rhythmical black gelding Davinci L take the lead on a whacking 74.676% and a wonderful display of expression and calmness combined with harmony and ease. It was a delight, and this big horse makes the work look how it should be… effortless!
Brett Parbery and Sky Diamond, the stallion owned by Terry Snow, gained a 73.471% and unfortunately a couple of green mistakes in the test with a missed step in the pirouette as well as a stallion-distracted flying change out of the counter canter were costly indeed, as well as an early change at the end of the extended canter. But wow this horse is really something, and what a great future. He is young and inexperienced and what a great horse, test and ridden so well. When he gains more experience and these minor green mistakes disappear, what a score they will get!
Jenny Gehrke on the big Senator Nymphenburg made a very expressive test indeed with a score of 72.706% and Michelle Baker riding as always with accuracy and pizazz on this impressive bay gelding by Prestige VDL Bradgate Park Puccini. Big extended paces and the changes expressive and becoming more consistent. Woodside Lady Loxley for David McKinnon was next, and a few mistakes for this very bright chestnut mare and you have the feeling there are more marks lurking in the wings. The class was a good one indeed and close and full of quality horses that were well ridden!
Nicole Tough and Ferragamo won the Advanced 5A on 70.329%, from Harvey Besley and Darreen Rock n Roller in second on 69.605%.
Competition continues at Willinga Park tomorrow and includes the Grand Prix CDI4*, so stay tuned!
READ THE LATEST NEWS ARTICLES HERE
