Rozzie Ryan and Jarrah R, winners of the Grand Prix Special CDI4*.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
By Roger Fitzhardinge
Saturday’s competition saw great cooler weather and a bit of breeze, which made for pleasant viewing as well as riding!
Grand Prix Special CDI4*
The Grand Prix Special was won by Rozzie Ryan and Jarrah R (Jive Magic/Samphire/H & R Ryan), her 12-year-old Australian warmblood gelding. They became the first-ever Grand Prix Special Champions at Dressage by the Sea CDI4*. It despite a few minor mistakes – a break in the trot and mistakes in the one tempis. 66.489% was their score.
Mary Warren, who is riding Mindarah Park Raphael with great positivity and really going for the big marks, finished second. A big loss of marks in a poor pirouette was costly, all the same a great test and a score of 65.213%. Third was Alycia Targa and CP Dresden on 64.787%. A mistake free test and one judge bringing their marks down. All judges over 65%, but one at 62%. That’s dressage!
Mary Warren and Mindarah Park Raphael, second in the GP Special.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
Young Horse 4YO Round 1
The morning saw the young horse classes in the indoor arena and the four year old winner was HV Del Piero, ridden by Robbie McKinnon; a black horse by De Niro out of the FEI mare Her Highness, a mare that David McKinnon, Robbie’s husband, used to ride. A very loose horse who gained a score of 86.6% and a very appealing horse with plenty of bling.
In second place was David McKinnon on the Willinga Park-owned stallion WP Fangio by Finell out of Weihegold on 83.6% and a very steady test with fluency and consistency. In third was Alycia Targa and the home bred mare by Negro out of a Medallion mare, with a score of 75.6%. The standard of the top horses was amazing and Jane Ventura spoke so well about their attributes at the end of each round.
Young Horse 5YO Round 1
The five year old class was strong indeed and the first three horses were fantastic and truly international, all scoring huge deserved marks. The winner was another Willinga Park entrant, WP Emotion – a big, bold bay imported mare by Equitaris out of Feliciana and a score of 86.8%. Elastic paces and a very uphill way of going, and Brett showing her in the best possible way. Great canter and a very sharp trot, with plenty of energy and balance and looks very on the job.
In second place was Macarthur Quinlan, a very attractive chestnut gelding and ridden by Kate Taylor-Wheat and so beautifully done considering she only gained the chance ride five days ago. The horse is by Quarterback and out of an Alabaster mare. The highlight was for sure the canter and an overall score here of 82.2%. A super horse for the future with great outlook and trainability.
Third was an outstanding individual. A big chestnut also by Quarterback, oozed his way around the arena with consulate ease and balance with hugely expansive paces and with great energy… yet super relaxation and confidence. This horse has a huge future in the sport, but the judges saying he needed to be more over the back. The canter was amazing with such a cadenced stride and expansive paces. These three horses were seriously fantastic and tomorrow will be interesting to see them in the individual test and a new set of judges and movements.
Young Horse 6YO Round 1
In the six year old it was Jayden Brown and Bertone who really stole the show and 80.2%. He is by Benicia and what an amazing trot. In second was Deborah Oliver’s ride, Highfields Bella Vita, with a 72.2%; he is by Beltane. Third was Denise Rogan and Greco on 71.8%. Greco is by Grandiose and out of the FEI mare Callum Park Freya.
Young Rider Classes
In the main arena it was Rosie Cook who won the CDI-J riding KH Arion with a score of 63.373%.
In the CDI U25 GP it was a win to Rosanna Relton and Four Winds Bombardier from Queensland on 63.692%. Such a super little bay horse and great harmony here between horse and rider. In second was Claire Plenty of Queensland on a horse that was previously owned and competed Grand Prix with Emma Youngman. A score of 58.923%. The CDI-Y went to Daisy Fielding and Fairbanks Davinci on 68.353%.
What great morning of dressage and then we has Freestyles to fill the afternoon in the outside arena!
Freestyles
The Advanced Freestyle saw some talented horses and riders and an amazing and well deserved result for Rebecca Walshe and BHM Spanish Amor with 71.770% to take out the win from Nicole Tough from QLD and Ferragamo, the beautiful black gelding by Furstenball. Rebecca rode with positivity and pizzazz, and that’s what dressage freestyle looks towards and she did it with harmony and ease.
In third place was Darreen Rock n Roller for Harvey Besley, and what a great story here but that’s for another day. 68.030%; what a great job when you think where this horse’s mind was 12 months ago. A great class and look out Small Tour as there are plenty of good horses in the wings about to step up here!
The Small Tour Freestyle saw the battle of the giants, and the tallest was the black gelding with all the stature and balance in Davinci L ridden by Jayden Brown. He was super but showing a little inexperience in the evening atmosphere. He is green at this level and a little tender still. All the same, what a great character and it was a great ride. A good horse is a good horse, and perhaps the will to win created a little tension within the test; sometimes less is more.
In second, another star in the wings with a few distracted moments was Sky Diamond, the Sir Donnerhall stallion who is a real gymnast but who is easily distracted and makes mistakes through this with silly resistant momentary lapses. Testosterone and ego!
Michelle Baker was third, and despite a stuff up with the music and Michelle having to leave and return after Jayden, she was not in any way perturbed! It was great class and I could go on about the place-getters down to 20th with no trouble but the room doesn’t allow!
The Medium Tour Freestyle saw Catherine Chittenden win with Neversfelde Springbok on a score of 63.310%, from Breanna Tillitzki and Fursten Hit in second on 61.895%.
It was certainly an amazing afternoon’s enjoyable dressage!
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