Mary Hanna and Ivanhoe have claimed the CDI3* Grand Prix at 4CYTE Dressage by the Sea this afternoon, ahead of their impending trip to Europe for the FEI Dressage World Cup Final.
The experienced combination, who were the travelling reserves for the Australian Olympic team at the Paris Games last year, scored 68.522% to finish nearly 4% clear of the field and with a unanimous first placing across all five judges.
“Mary Hanna and Ivanhoe showed all their experience to produce a great test and win this test,” says Roger Fitzhardinge, who was ringside at Dressage by the Sea. “A few mistakes that were costly included a pirouette (a x2 co-efficient) and then a mistake in the change on the centreline between the pirouettes. Still, their 68%+ score was still well and truly in front.”
Mary and Ivanhoe (by Desperado) qualified to compete at the FEI Dressage World Cup Final, which takes place in Basel, Switzerland in April, after winning the FEI Dressage Pacific League Final at the Victorian Dressage Festival in December. Basel will be Mary’s sixth World Cup final, alongside Gothenburg, Sweden (1996), s’Hertogenbosch, Sweden (1997), and Gothenburg (1998) with Mosaic; Lyon, France (2014) with Sancette; and Gothenburg (2016) with Umbro.
Second place in the CDI3* Grand Prix went to Breanna Tillitzki and BZ Raphael (by Regardez Moi) on 64.848%, while Jodie Dunstan and Highlands Bend Hollander (by His Highness) were a close third on 64.196%. Olympian Sue Hearn was fourth with Eminent (by Santano) on 63.5%, while Rozzie Ryan rounded out the top five riding Bronze Boy R (by Byalee Briar) – who was also a four-star eventer with Heath Ryan in the saddle – on a score of 62.609%.
“I’m sure Breanna will be rapt with her horse’s performance in second place, with some nice passage really developing now,” says Roger. “Holland‘s Bend Highlander for Jodie Dunstan is a very big, bay horse with fantastic piaffe and passage, and making all the changes, perhaps the first in a Grand Prix for this combination! The marks were perhaps not really reflecting some of the quality that this horse showed. He could’ve probably been a little more forward in the canter work, and also in the trot work he could have showed a little bit more engagement, especially in the extended trot. All the same, a well-deserved third place.
“This was the first big competition for a while for many riders and a chance to blow the cobs away. Tomorrow is another day, where the focus will no doubt be on producing more accurate tests with more engagement and collection. The CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle will be a highlight for sure.”
The CDN Grand Prix saw another win today for the new combination of Jayden Brown and Chemistry on 67.478%. The pair won yesterday’s Inter II in what was their first competition start together.
“In the CDN Grand Prix, it was Jayden Brown on Chemistry who showed his superiority and international experience to win the class,” comments Roger. “Chemistry showed good ability for piaffe and passage and he knows the test very well with his experience. The stallion perhaps lacked a little enthusiasm and pizzazz, but a lovely frame and a correct way of going for Jayden; they deserved the win.”
Second in the CDN Grand Prix was Queensland’s Lisel Dingley with Carousel Oasis on 62.805%, a horse she bred and trained from the get-go.
As Lisel explained to Equestrian Life in October last year, she had ridden both of Oasis’ parents before breeding him in 2007. “I bought his mum, Aeros, as a four-year-old. She was by Aachimedes and was my first real Warmblood dressage horse. I started riding Oasis’ dad, Meilland Troubadour, later in his life. He was a Welsh D and had been doing more showing. I competed him really successfully for a couple of years in the dressage arena.”
Although she had ridden a few horses at Small Tour level, Oasis is Lisel’s first Grand Prix horse. Lisel said that Oasis has proven to be a challenging horse to train over the past 18 years, but in the last year or so it has all begun to come together in the competition arena – persistence has certainly paid off!
Third place in the CDN Grand Prix went to the super pony Hilkens Denali (by Dreamcatcher) for rider Alison Gill and owner Wendy Lorincz, with a score of 62.456%.
“It was so fabulous to see the pony Hilkens Denali against all the big horses,” observes Roger. “A real crown pleaser and perhaps the judging was a little tight with marks given it was almost a mistake-free test… other than missing one tempi change. The first piaffe was a little lacking, but some beautiful piaffe and passage towards the end of the test with great two tempis, pirouettes, and a good zigzag. This pony seems to get better and better, but we believe it could possibly be his retirement after this competition. What a great pony!”
Medium Tour
The CDN Intermediate A took place today, with Matthew Lord riding Cheryl O’Brien’s stallion Remi Vigneron (by Viscount) to a win on 69.020%. Second place in this test went to Dave McKinnon riding Hollands Bends Rococo on 68.186%, while Heather Currie was third riding the Desperados gelding Wunderbar Black 59 on 64.755%.
Small Tour
Brett Parbery and Velvitt (by Vivaldi) improved on their second-place finish in Thursday’s Advanced 5.1 to win today’s CDI Prix St Georges on a score of 71.618%, placing first with all three judges.
Velvitt was previously trained by Rodney Martin from a young horse through the levels for owner Lia Notaras, with Brett now taking the reins.
Second place went to Sally Rizzuto and the Quarterback gelding Quarterland on 67.549%, while Celeste Amezdroz and her mare Sugarloaf Amnesty (by Ampere) placed third on 67.206%. Victorian Justine Greer was fourth riding Karen Hunt’s Bloomfield Sekuona (by Sezuan) to a score of 66.755%, while Tanisha Ryan rounded out the top five with a score of 66.520% aboard her own gelding Jembrae Rattle N Hum (by Riverside).
“This CDI class did not seem to have the same depth as previous years, with the scores in general being considerably lower across the board – but all the same, there were some consistent tests and strong performances,” says Roger.
The CDN Intermediate I saw a shuffling of placings from yesterday’s PSG test, with Susan Elekessy claiming the win aboard her own gelding Callum Park Damascus (by De Niro) on 68.824%.
“This big chestnut is becoming seriously impressive at this level and I’m sure another Grand Prix horse about to emerge. A well-ridden test, still being a little cautious with the handbrake on a little with lots of potential and lots of ability to produce great movements,” says Roger.
Yesterday’s CDN PSG winners, Kaila Simms riding Tim Reilly’s Desiree IMP (by Desperados), placed second today on 66.226%, while Ava Halloran and her own Good Time (by Rudolph) placed a close third on 66.225%.
“The little imported mare Desiree, ridden by Kayla Simms, won yesterday’s CDN PSG in the indoor with a beautiful test but today was a little overwhelmed and tense in the Grand Prix arena… such a shame, as this is a quality mare with obvious potential and plenty of marks to gain,” adds Roger.
Future stars
“The CDI-P, CDI-J, CDI-Y and CDI-U25 without doubt were outstanding classes here at Willinga Park,” says Roger.
The CDI-U25 Intermediate II saw a win to Bridgette Dalmau and Bon Jovi MH (by Bonifatius) on 65.588%, ahead of Maddison Vallender and Ronan R (by Regardez Moi) on 61.853% and Amy Bachmann with SWS Debutante (by Dancier) on 60.618%.
“It was Bon Jovi MH with Bridgette Dalmau who won this class… a spritely little bay horse with plenty of pizzazz and ridden very well and prepared for all movements by Bridgette,” says Roger.
“With a mistake-free test showing a good result in second place was Maddie Vallender and Ronan R. This big liver chestnut horse shows plenty of pizzazz and ability. Maddie is a top rider in top form, having won the CDI-J on her mare earlier (results below) and a very confident ride indeed on this elegant horse.
“The Under-25 class shows some amazing talent. The obvious strange mark amongst these results was for Dante Quando OLD and Charlie Welsh. It was not Charlie nor the stallion’s day, yet their worth was seen in the warmup… it was truly international, but stallions can be stallions, and he wasn’t going to have a bar of it in the test; unfortunately mistakes are very costly. We look forward to seeing him tomorrow.”
The CDI-Y Team Test went to Jess Dertell and the Bordeaux stallion Kilimanjaro on 72.108%. Jess has said that this horse is now not too far away from a Grand Prix start, and she views him as a potential future contender for Australian teams. You can read more via Equestrian Life’s interview earlier this month with Jess here.
Tia Rose Mckenzie was second in the CDI-Y riding her gelding Franzisco RW (by Franziskus) on 69.755%, ahead of Ella Jacobs and her mare Kalahari (by Kaiserkult) in third on 68.284%.
“The CDI-Y saw the most outstanding test I’ve seen at Willinga Park thus far with the chestnut stallion Kilimanjaro for Jessica Dertell. The expression, the harmony, and the balance was absolutely outstanding and for sure the marks were modest even at 72%. The trot work was exemplary, with Jess riding every corner and preparing for every movement with simplicity and expertise; agai,n her overseas experience is really showing,” enthuses Roger.
As mentioned, Maddison Vallender won the CDI-J Team Test with mare Rubinell (by Blue Hors Rominov) on 71.465%. Tia Rose Mckenzie secured another second placing, this time with Phenomenon (by Franz Ferdinand), scoring a very close 71.313%. In third was Angelina Thompson and Arnage Royal Edition (by Royal Hit) on 70.152%.
“In the CDI-J it was a very, very wonderful class again with Tia Rose and Maddie a minuscule mark between the two. Both were extremely nice tests and again the riding was outstanding. You could send those horses and riders anywhere in the world and they would hold their own. A very exciting class full of potential,” says Roger.
This year, Dressage by the Sea is also running international Pony tests for the first time; these tests are specifically for young riders under the age of 16 competing on ponies. The CDI-P Team Test saw a win to the very successful combination of Abby Weel and the German import Reitlands Obama (by High Flows Oxford), scoring an impressive 73.571%. This pony had been very successful at the Bundeschampionate (the German national young horse and pony championships) and was later part of the German Pony team at a European Championship alongside Rose Oatley on Daddy Moon. With Abby in the saddle, Reitlands Obama has now continued to be very successful here in Australia!
“Abby Weel in the CDI-P made an absolutely outstanding test that was faultless and expressive on the bay pony Reitlands Obama,” says Roger. “Abby’s experience overseas and her ability to absorb the atmosphere, the information, and the good riding that goes on around her is certainly showing as she rode a very well prepared and presented test and deserved every mark, with highlights in the medium and extended trot.”
You can read more about the Weel family in the November 2024 issue of Equestrian Life here.
Second in the CDI-P was Tess Baker and Hilkens No Kidding (by Nemax) on 64.619%, ahead of Isabella Anderson and her own gelding Boronia Applause (by Mandaley Bell Roy) on 61.333%.
Medium & Advanced
The Medium 4.2 saw another win to the Paris Paralympic combination of Lisa Martin and Vilaggio, with the pair backing up yesterday’s performance with another strong score of 72.703% today. In second was Jordan Smith riding his mare by Foundation, Penny Hill Park Francesca, on a score of 71.689%, while Sarah Farraway and her Fürstenball gelding Remi Furstensong were third on 70.608%.
“In the Medium, it was an outstanding performance again for Vilaggio and Lisa Martin,” says Roger. “Lisa showed all her experience from training and competing many horses here in Australia and internationally at two Paralympics and a World Championship. The horse was beautiful with elastic paces and was beautifully ridden and presented.
“A great score again in second place it was Jordan Smith from Western Australia on Penny Hill Park Francesca, and in third place Sarah Farraway on the very, very impressive black gelding, Remi Furstensong… what a horse this is going to be as well! A very, very classy field full of great talent and exciting prospects for the future with great percentages,” enthuses Roger.
The Medium Championship went to Lisa and Vilaggio, while the Reserve title was a tie between Sarah and Jordan.
The Advanced Championship also concluded today with another win to Robbie McKinnon and her mare QS Sierra (by Stedinger) in the 5.2 with a score of 76.185%. This combination took out the overall Advanced Champion title, while Serena Ireland and Tjibbe B were the Reserve Champions after placing third in today’s 5.2 on 70.263%. Second in the 5.2 was Kaila Simms and Arnage Totil Bliss (by Totilas), who score 70.922%.
Competition continues across the weekend at 4CYTE Dressage by the Sea.
