Dressage has wrapped up in the CCI4*S Meßmer Trophy at Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials, with all six Australian combinations now having completed their tests ahead of Saturday’s cross-country.
Isabel English and Cil Dara Bombay S have produced the highest ranked Australian result after two days of dressage, receiving a score of 32.4 penalties to sit 14th heading into the second phase.
Andrew Hoy and Vassily de Lassos were close behind, with their score of 32.7 penalties leaving them in 16th position and well within striking distance ahead of cross-country.
Grace Kay and Bluefields For Cello completed their test for a score of 34.9 penalties and will enter cross-country in 30th place, while Kevin McNab and Faro Imp recorded an uncharacteristically low dressage score of 39.5 penalties.
Joining Friday’s combinations, Hannah Klep and Tulara Chicouve remain the third-highest Australian pairing after their Thursday performance of 35.3 penalties, while Isabel English and Cil Dara Dallas sit on 37.1 penalties.
Julia Krajewski has taken a commanding lead in the CCI4*-S after delivering another standout performance, this time with Uelzener’s Nickel. The Olympic champion heads into cross-country on 22.9 penalties, while fellow German Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Carlitos Quidditch K sit second on 27.0. Krajewski also occupies third place aboard Tullabeg Platinum on 27.2, giving her two horses inside the top three.
Krajewski was pleased with her performances and optimistic ahead of the next phase.
“Nickel definitely has a few favourite events and Luhmühlen is certainly one of them. He knows exactly what this place is about, he knows the job and just says ‘Let’s go!’” she said.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s challenge, she added: “The course is quite similar to previous years. There are plenty of fences coming out of turns, so the horses need to be well balanced. The time won’t be easy either because, in a short format, there a lot of jumping efforts packed into a relatively short track.”
Malin Hansen-Hotopp was equally enthusiastic about her horse and the task ahead.
“This horse is simply sensational,” she said. “I think it’s a fantastic course. At first glance, the track perhaps looks a little easier than it actually is. You need to stay very focused and keep the horses in front of you at all times.”
With only small margins separating many of the combinations behind Krajewski, Saturday’s cross-country phase is expected to prove decisive in shaping the final standings.
Saturday Australian cross country times:
Isabel English and Cil Dara Dallas (1.32pm local time, 9.32pm AEST)
Hannah Klep and Tulara Chicouve (2.20pm local time, 10.20 AEST)
Grace Kay and Bluefields For Cello (2.50 local time, 10.50pm AEST)
Andrew Hoy and Vassily de Lassos (2.56pm local time, 10.56pm AEST)
Kevin McNab and Faro Imp (3.47pm local time, 11.47pm AEST)
Isabel English and Cil Dara Bombay S (3.53pm local time, 11.53pm AEST)
Emily King leads CCI5*L after dressage
In the Longines CCI5*L, Great Britain’s Emily King and Valmy Biats moved into the lead following Friday’s dressage performances, finishing on 27.0 penalties.
American rider Hallie Coon and Kapriccio slipped to second on 27.8, while New Zealand’s James Avery and Dallas 13 moved into third on 29.6 after producing a personal best performance.
“We know each other inside out and are incredibly in tune with one another,” King said of her long-time partner.
“He responded beautifully and we worked really well together. He stayed with me throughout the test and felt balanced the whole way.”
The sole Australian combination in the CCI5*L field, Bill Levett and Tom Tom R, had earlier withdrawn prior to the dressage phase.
Saturday’s cross-country course, designed by Mike Etherington-Smith, is expected to significantly reshape both leaderboards as combinations tackle the influential track.
View the CCI5*L results and start times here.
Source: Turniergesellschaft Luhmühlen press release, edited by Equestrian Life
