Competition Report & Photographs
Rosemount Wines Grand Prix Special

The Grand Prix Special test is the most demanding and difficult of all of the Dressage tests as it contains all of the combinations from the Grand Prix, but condenses the test so that the movements are performed with much less time to re group and re balance.  One of the most difficult sequences in the test is the collected canter down the centre line, with a pirouette left at D, between D & G, 9 fling changes every stride, at G pirouette right. Most riders and horse trainers can appreciate the level of education and balance that is required so that the horse can perform these difficult movements - on the centre line - straight and without swinging. 

This competition bought together quality of horses, and their training and the riders' skill was very apparent in this Grand Prix Special.  As this was an Olympic Selection event, everyone was keen to see which combinations would come through as Australia's Sydney 2000 hopefuls.

Disappointingly, two of the horses that the crowd were here to see, did not start in this event they were Mary Hanna's Limbo and Rachael Downs Yardley Charisma.

The first to go was Di Jenkyn's, Snowy River Blackwood.  This horse and rider combination have an obvious partnership.  He is such a lovely soft going horse and the highlight of his test was the canter pirouettes and his piaffe/Passage tour.  The test flowed and was without serious errors.  The final piaffe was just a little 'sticky'  but they were able to claim this event as another victory with a great score of $64.42% 

Di Jenkyn and Snowy River Blackwood were the 2000 Australian Grand Prix Champions

Sue Hearn from NSW was next to go on her huge, beautifully conformed thoroughbred gelding Manhattan.  He stands 17 hands and is by TB stallion, 24 Carat.  This horse has really developed since I saw him at the CDI three years ago - he is so powerful and has a real talent for collection.   Sue did a wonderful job with this demanding test and Manhattan impressed all with his expressive piaffe/passage, he was however,  just a little tense in the neck,   at this level such a fault would not be overlooked.  There was an error in the 9 x 2 times changes and the one time changes were a little tight.  The final piaffe at X was sensational, and allowed Sue to finish on a high note. They scored 62.42% for equal 4th place.

Number 3 to go was the 14 year old grey Holsteiner mare Number 37, Cadenza was next to go.  Ridden by Emma Anderson.  This was a very well ridden test from the young Emma, who with Cadenza just seemed to get better and better as the df weekend progressed.  Cadenza is a very talented horse and was originally trained by well known Queensland rider Lea Bierman - Emma probably bought the horse in order to learn more, and that she seems to have done!  The highlight of this GP Special test was the piaffe/passage tour, and the passage/walk transition, was one of the best.  Cadenza's centre is a little tight but the two times changes were beautifully forward, but I think I counted 17 X one times, two more than the required 15.  The difficult centre line pirouettes and one times changes looked quite good from the side, but the judges on the short side of the arena can see very much more and may not have agreed.Me must have been delighted with her 60.65% score and 6th place.

Another Queensland horse - Number 62, Fenton was next to go.  Linda Schmerglatt
Put in a very polished performance, but perhaps it lacked a little softness.  Fenton dropped behind the bit in the extended walk, and at this level these mistakes are quite costly.  I felt that the canter half passes needed to be more forward and flowing.  The sequence flying changes were very well executed and showed the experience of this combination.   I also liked the centre line pirouettes and changes, but as mentioned, it is not always easy to see the faults in straightness.  The final piaffe/passage sequence was expressive, balanced and rhythmical.  The came  9th  with a percentage score of 59.02%

Victorian Based combination Campaspe Park Greta (No. 38 ridden by Lisa Alexander took the 5th on order of ride off and Greta was calm which made it possible for Lisa to ride a very accurate Grand Prix Special.  This mare displayed lovely canter activity, particularly with her hind legs but at time there was a lack of lift in the forehand.   The first piaffe/passage sequence was very nice with a great transition into canter at X.  Thew two times changes were a little tense with improvement in the ones.   Lisa did a good job with the difficult centre line sequence of canter pirouette left, 1 X times changes and canter pirouette right, but as I have said previously, it is difficult to know how they looked from the front!  This is one of the nicest tests that I have seen Lisa ride, and I am sure they would have been delighted with the score of 60.28% which put them into 7th position.

One of the most improved horses on the Australian Dressage scene is the horse that next took place in the Grand Prix Special this was Number 98, Jahnus so well ridden by Victorian Emma Youngman.   This lovely elegant chestnut, by Jaguar (imported from Germany by Belcam and then sold to NZ, Jahnus' birth place).  Emma has the softest hands, and rides beautifully.  Her success this weekend confirm this.  Jahnus has a beautiful walk,  this horse is only 8 years old and is still gaining strength and balance in the piaffe/passage tour which was the weaker part of this performance.  The pirouettes and centre line changes were admirably well executed and the final halt well balance and the perfect end to this great test.  A fantastic score for Jahnus of 62.42% and equal 4th. position with Manhattan.

All the way from WA was the next competitor - Jennine Smith riding Number 134 Nordic Speculation. 
This test was spoilt by tension and as a consequence lack harmony.  Jennine seemed to struggle with the rein contact and Speculation was often not really on the bit.  The difficult piaffe/passage sequences became flat and a little irregular but the centre work was much better.  There were errors in the 2 times changes but the one times looked great from my vantage point.  The centre line canter pirouettes and changes started well but the changes became tense and the pirouette to the right was not the quality of the first one.  The final piaffe/passage tour was again spoilt by tension and this is indeed a great pity as Speculation was certainly a crowd favourite.  I am sure that the experience will stand this combination in excellent stead for the future, and we will see them 'get it together' with excellent results.  Todays score was just below 60% on 59.44% and 8th placing.

Yardley Aphrodite Number 198 so capably ridden by Rachel Downs was next to go.  This horse really gave me the impression that it was able to maintain self carriage for almost all of the test.  The piaffe were the weak point but they were able to show a nice passage.   The two times changes were lovely but mistakes in the ones would have been a disappointment as they are often this horse's highlight.  Rachael is such a focussed rider, that she was able to get the best possible performance from this young mare.   A fantastic result and 2nd place on 64.23%

GV Stirling Stilton, Number 69 performed his best test for the competition in this his Grand Prix Special test.  So well ridden by Heath Ryan who did the job very well.  The horse showed a great overtrack in his extended walk, and this quality is rewarded by the astute judges at this level.  The half passes were flowing and correct, but at times Stilton anticipated the piaffe, and there was some tension and forward creeping..  This horse has a very expressive extended trot - it can sometimes be spoilt by tension, but not on this occasion. Heath would have been delighted with the third placing and a wonderful score of 63.53% I guess  we may see TWO RYAN'S at the 2000 Sydney Olympics?

The striking black stallion Voodoo, number 192 was next to go.  Ridden by the 'seasoned' campaigner Gill Rickard from NSW.  Voodoo was tense which made the first extended trot appear hurried and lacking expression.  The half passes suffered similarly.  The horse has much potential and at times shows lovely elevation.  The canter work included well executed tempe changes but Gill would have been disappointed that tension robbed them of high marks the finished with a score of 52.93%, in 10th position.