Sydney CDI***
29th April - 2nd May 2004
Inside Report ...
by Ann-Maree Lourey
Pics: Berni Saunders.
THE annual
gathering of the elite FEI horses of Australia at the 2004 Sydney CDI and
day one, test one, sees it head straight into the land of controversy.
Heath Ryan,
with two rides in the international Prix St Georges class, has drawn first
on DP Christopher and obviously the immediate quality has come as a bit of a
shock to the judging team because at 64% for what Heath described as “a
personal best” for the horse, the scene is set for one of the lowest-scoring
classes seen at a recent Australian CDI. There is nowhere to go but down …
second out was Dirk Djikstra on Rituel and only 58.5%. After a few more
scores the rest of the riders are tacking up in the stables in
consternation!
With the
qualifying cut-off mark for the test at 61.28%, how could it be that only
nine horses out of 30 scored above that mark?? Undoubtedly many horses rose
to the occasion and did the best test they had ever done, yet scored 7% and
more lower than they were used to achieving. It certainly isn’t
statistically possible for every horse there to perform below its average.
The
standard of judging for the PSG was a popular topic – the beautiful
Cinderella had a field day with Matthew Dowsley, trying to add some more
exciting movements to her test, and in the final count, her marks ranged
from 64% from one judge to 55% from another! The new version of score
breakdowns, with the commentator giving a percentage from each judge instead
of a mark, certainly made it easier for the crowd to grasp whether the
powers that be were like-minded or not.
Cinderella
& Matthew Dowsley
The
international riders were taken aback too – one gathered that they weren’t
used to scoring 50-something percent at an international competition! Best
of the riders on loan horses was Francesca Nicoletti (USA), who forged an
instant partnership with the Bruces’ Neversfelde Kudu and came 10th
on 61.25%. First place in the test ultimately went to Heath on his second
ride, Donna Carrera, on 66.67%, with wife Rozzie on Greenoaks Legend on
65.75% and Christopher in 3rd. Donna Carrera looked her usual
elegant self to take the class, with the Ryan trifecta followed by Renee
Pedretti on Sunbury Lodge Thomas, a lovely test, Northern Invader and Vickie
Robertson, with his usual fantastic rhythm, and Wisdom and Ann Serrao.
It was a
relief, then, when the Inter II horses came out and fared a little better.
First went to Ricky MacMillan and Crisp, despite an uncharacteristic error,
on 66%. Not their absolute best but Crisp as self-possessed as ever and
worth every mark. Second went to Glennis Barry on Gaucho II with an absolute
blitzer of a test. Butter wouldn’t melt in Gaucho’s mouth, not a spook in
sight, just some extremely elevated piaffe/passage work and some awesome
changes. In fact, with percentages of up to 69% from one judge, he was
actually in first place with two out of five and proved that he is a danger,
breathing down the necks of the top contenders. Third went to Gabana, all
the way from New Zealand with Louisa Hill, with some great piaffe and again,
one judge had them in 1st place with a final mark of 65.37%.
Gabana was all class, and it’s easy to see why she is a contender for
Olympic representation. Fourth went to Claire Wickins and Jahnus, fifth to
Marakoopa and Gill Rogers (one of three thoroughbreds in the 15-strong
class, for those TB owners who want to prove they can do it) and sixth to
Centaur and Ann Serrao, placed up to 4th by one judge and one of
those combinations that you had to keep watching.
Claire
Wickens on Andrea McMillan's Jahnus
Outside was
the national Prix St George class, for those combinations reserve-listed for
the CDI, and it was won by Sally Evans and the stallion A’Seduction, with
second to Liebling and Shannon Tonkin and 3rd to Gracefield
Fabian and Lizzie Wilson-Fellowes. This was a great opportunity for some of
the younger horses to see the sights, preparing them for the big time next
time around.
Better Luck in the Inter
Day two and
it was the turn of the Inter I – this time the scores are up and all is
right with the world. Rozzie and Legend triumph on 72%, surpassing their
Nationals score last month (surely it must be a record now?!) with Heath and
Donna 2nd on 67.4% and Christopher a smidgin behind on 67%. It’s
very hard to get past a Ryan test, but Amelia Legge certainly gives them a
nudge. Aura Dell Alexander might be turning 22 this year, but 66.2% is a
fantastic percentage no matter what. He knows his job and he does it well.
Fifth goes to Wisdom, 6th to Cinderella.
Rozzie
Ryan on the imported gelding Greenoaks Legend
Outside in advanced
Meanwhile,
outside, the national advanced classes are in full swing side by side, with
the top 12 horses through to an indoor freestyle. First going in to face the
music is Mayfield Pzazz and Kerry Mack, our representatives at the World
Young Horse last year, followed by Weltklasse and Lesley-Anne Taylor,
Northern Xanthus II and Danielle Vasella, Emperor Charlemagne and Kate
Foundas, Neversefelde Feuer and Maurie Bruce, and Jaybee Acrobat and
Alexandra Berns. Watching both the Inter I and the advanced is an aerobic
exercise – they are separated by a steep grassy hill! As it turned out,
there was considerable rearrangement after the advanced freestyle – first
went ultimately to Weltklasse, all 17.3hh of him, on more than 70%, followed
by Maurie, Sally Evans and A’Seduction, up from 7th, then Pzazz.
South
Australian Lesley-Anne Taylor on Weltklasse
Grand Prix
Meanwhile
in the indoor the Inter I has made way for the Grand Prix and the best of
the first group is HP Finagin and Lesley-Anne Taylor. This is one very
straight horse, great rhythm, and leading on 59.5% going into the break.
Next group
out features Claire Wickins and Jahnus, a combination specialising in
invisible piaffe/passage transitions and it’s an oh-so-smooth test. He’s for
sale if you fancy making it to instant Grand Prix! Next is Middleton Apollo
and Tracey Lee, who has owned the horse since he was 18 months old and
trained him herself. Today there are a few glitches but he’s improving all
the time, while Gabana and Lousia Hill take the lead on 64.5% with another
elegant and correct test. There’s hardly a step out of place. Amoucheur and
Kelly Layne are a combination I haven’t seen before, and the horse is
stunning, but he is seeing scary horse-eating monsters in every corner and
every patch of sunlight, almost stopping dead from canter in fright at one
point. In between, the work is superb, the walk is huge, and they still
score 62.37%. When the judge at C stands up and the crowd simultaneously
claps, the poor horse almost dies on the spot! Centaur looks great, better
than yesterday, and scores higher than yesterday with 63.22% for a very
correct test.
Queenslander Kelly Layne on Amoucheur
And then
the final six: First in the final group is Glennis Barry and Gaucho, scoring
63.4% for a test that isn’t quite as magic as his Inter II but still more
than presentable. The stalwart Mighty Heights comes in and does his job as
ever – the piaffe isn’t as energetic as in the Inter II but Karin Davis is
riding for every inch in the trot and passage and he looks great. Di Jenkyn
and Snowy River Blackwood have a problem in both sets of changes but
obviously he has a great fan club in the stands that appreciates his piaffe
and pirouettes!
Glennis
Barrey on Gaucho ll
And along
comes Heath Ryan. We are still used to seeing him charge in through the gate
on Stirling Stilton, but his Grand Prix relationship with Greenoaks Dundee
is well and truly up and running. And voila, this is a vibrant, expressive
test that is also calm. They have settled into their new level and a score
of 65.3% proves it. But the crowd knows it is unlikely to be enough to hold
off the last two competitors …
Mary Hanna
on Limbo
Limbo and
Mary Hanna look picture perfect as they circle the arena. And the test is
full of energy – almost too much when they piaffe into walk, but apart from
a slip in the two-times it’s right on target.
Ricky
MacMillan and Crisp, however, look to be the winners, even as the test
develops. Crisp’s trademark invisible transitions are at their best,
seamless pirouettes, such a high degree of technical execution. It’s no
surprise when Ricky wins on 68%. If this is the last-ditch showdown for
Olympic selection between Limbo and Crisp, then Crisp looks to have the
edge.
Ricky
MacMillan and Crisp - have the edge!
Young Horse Hots Up
Things
really hot up on day three at SIEC. The young horse classes are in full
swing outside, and tempers are fraying and patience is wearing thin as they
run late and later, baby horses running out of puff everywhere as riders
give up and get off and try again, only to find there is no engine left.
Survival of the fittest perhaps? The classes are not overflowing, which is
surprising. Speaking from experience, it is the best possible experience for
the young horses that are going to end up in the CDI or Nationals one day to
have all the fun of the competition and get used to it all before it becomes
a matter of life and death in the international FEI classes. The
professionals are there – maybe they scare off the one-horse owners?
The trade
stands are also in full swing – more than ever before by the look of it, so
many that they don’t all fit down the long side of the indoor and soon we
will end up with a veritable village of shops. The spectators are split
between shopping, young horse and tests like the advanced freestyle and the
international derby, but it is the evening entertainment that really draws
the crowd, which builds up as the Inter I freestyle runs its course and
leaves standing room only by the time the Grand Prix begins.
And the
Ryan trifecta is finally interrupted in the Inter I freestyle. First again
to Rozzie and Legend on 69.3%, but 2nd to Francesca Nicoletti and
Neversfelde Kudu on 68.5%, and she is having a great time in Australia.
Third goes to Heath and Donna Carrera, while missing out on a canter
pirouette with Christopher drops him to 6th, behind Northern
Invader and Aura Dell Alexander.
But
Wait! Showjumping!
Just for a
break, there is a World Cup Showjumping Qualifier, giving our jumping
competitors a chance at an indoor course. Sadly, there isn’t a thrilling
jump-off because none of them make it clear and under time, but Chris Chugg
wins outright.
Tears for Abby
And there
is a sad farewell to Yardley Aphrodite, retiring from an international
career to have (we hope) beautiful foals. She shows her professionalism as
rider Rachael Sanna performs a Grand Prix freestyle, weaving in and out of
the showjumps as they are packed away onto tractors, barely missing a beat
as she executes half-circles of one-times and shows off wonderful piaffe and
passage. In fact, Abby looks like she could challenge the class to come, and
as Mary Seefried says emotionally in her official speech of farewell, how
about a wild card?!
Rachael
Sanna on her Olympic mount Aphrodite
But no,
Abby’s saddle is ceremonially removed and a floral garland is placed around
her neck, and while Rachael’s mum Nerida Downs cries with the other
supporters at the arena gate, there is a scrabbling for tissues in the
stands.
Luckily the
parade of international riders dries the eyes, and Roger Fitzharding takes
the audience through the requirements of the Grand Prix freestyle with
Rozzie Ryan and Legend, who show that they are very very close to making the
jump up to the top class.
The Pinnacle of the Show
And then
it’s time for the ‘pinnacle event’ as they say, interspersed with Badminton
updates to keep us in touch with the other side of the world. It is a rare
coming together – World Cup showjumping between international dressage with
‘as we speak’ news on fellow Aussies battling horrendous conditions at the
toughest event of them all.
First off
the ranks is Gill Rogers and Marakoopa. Gill has had the black TB for eight
years and trained him herself, and has some great music. She throws in not
one but two canter zigzags, not the most loved of grand prix movements, and
does them well, but Marakoopa isn’t co-operating in the ones and when she
tries them again he still won’t play. 61.5%.
Next is
Middleton Apollo, ridden by Tracey Lee, who enters to Eleanor Rigby and
trots off to Popcorn. We thought we’d never hear it again but Tracey gets
away with it, and plays with it to fit the piaffe and passage as well. There
is more Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, plenty of drama and just the odd
hiccup in the ones and twos. The blankets are out as the autumn wind gusts
through the indoor and we are well and truly in the swing. 60.33 for Apollo.
Middleton
Apollo and Tracey Lee from Victoria
Mighty
Heights is next, bopping away to Michael Jackson, showing some of his best
piaffe ever I think, reeling off, was it 24 one- times, but there’s a bit of
confusion in the trot halfpass, he will lose marks for submission when he
tries one-times instead, what a shame. 59.75%.
Finagin is
haunting the arena with Phantom of the Opera. He launches straight into a
piaffe/passage tour, and he’s really hyped. There’s a canter step where he
gets too enthusiastic, but then he settles into some flash work. There’s a
very polished walk to canter halfpass transition, it’s all absolutely on the
marker and he’s showing off to the enth degree. 64.48 and he jumps into the
lead…. Until Snowy River Blackwood completes his test. Again there are
glitches in the twos and ones but a second go at the twos nails them at
least, and Blackwood looks so serene. His head carriage is so steady, his
music fits like a glove (yes, of course they entered to their title theme),
and they pull off what must surely be the world’s most complicated final
centreline, with piaffe and canter pirouettes and passage all executed
without missing a beat. 67.13%
Lesley-Anne
Taylor and Finagin
As Claire
and Jahnus enter, Frank Sinatra hits the turntable and they too are off into
piaffe from halt. Ten-metre passage circles are popular tonight but there’s
lots of expression in this passage. The canter pirouettes get a bit stuck
but full marks for the changes – half circles of twos into diagonals of ones
without missing a beat, twice! 66.35%.
After the
break it’s Ann Serrao and Centaur, getting us all toe-tapping with some
great country music, like Bed of Roses, mixed up with Love a Rainy Night (I
might add it began raining just after that!). Centaur and Ann must take out
the award for the most petite combination, and he fairly twinkles around the
arena without touching the ground. It’s a great performance. 67.55 and a new
leader.
Gaucho II
isn’t going to let Centaur past without a fight. He launches into the arena
to Let’s Get Loud, and the crowd is almost dancing in the seats (beneath the
rugs and beanies!). There’s Latin American, 20 one-times, canter to passage
on the centre line … but it’s not quite enough. 67.3% and they tuck in
behind Centaur but ahead of Blackwood.
Di Jenkyn
and Snowy River Blackwood
Heath
enters like a man on a mission, and around me I can hear people muttering
“Here’s Heath!” in expectation. Sure enough, he heads down the long side
past the judges in rising extended trot, and then they’re in. Halt to
extended trot up the centreline, into passage on the corner and into piaffe
before more extended trot, yep, Heath’s here. He may not be able to play
one-handed just yet, as he did on Stilton with his one-times circles, but
it’s a very technically difficult test for such a young horse to pull off
and he’s really motoring. There’s a miss or two in the one times, but he
fits in enough to count and pulls off a second set to make up so the score
of 68.45% isn’t a surprise. It’s reassuring to see the scores are generous.
Heath Ryan
on Greenoaks Dundee
Next to go,
though, is Limbo and Mary Hanna. And the Spanish influence is strong
throughout the piaffe and passage, becoming a full-on tango for the trot.
There are twos and ones on the circle without a fault, a glitch in the ones
on the diagonal but that’s a mere detail among the other dramatic work.
There is a piaffe pirouette to canter, some lovely extensions, and Mary
looks pretty chuffed as she leaves the arena. 73.45 and only Ricky to go.
Mind you,
Ricky looks pretty chuffed before she even starts the test. The crowd is
cheering before her trademark music starts. I can’t remember how many times
I’ve seen this test, but I’m not sure I can remember it being beaten,
either, and why change a winning formula? No-one gets close to it tonight,
either, and how could they, with star quality movements like a one-handed
piaffe pirouette right in front of C … the crowd is clapping in appreciation
and the test isn’t even done yet. Ricky simply smiles and pulls a few more
rabbits out of her top hat … like faultless ones, faultless twos, there is
Piano Man, there is Hotel California, there is a set of one-handed one times
up the centreline that defy belief, so straight and true are they. Best of
all, Crisp is having a ball, you can see it in every step, in every muscle,
from his huge extended trot to his elevated passage halfpass. Like the Grand
Prix, it is a clear winner (on 75.27%) and Ricky really couldn’t do more to
make her Olympic point obvious.
Well
done to her, now it’s a matter of waiting to see if we get the chance to
have to choose …
