Exact claims Australian Young Dressage Horse Champion of Champions title
Following the finals across the age groups, four-year-old Remi Victoria’s Secret, five-year-old Mayfield Vibrance, six-year-old Exact and seven-year-old Axel DC were in the running to claim the overall Champion of Champions title. Exact for owner and rider Alexandra Vodermair was awarded the title; this gelding is by Escamillo out of a Sandro Hit mare, and was bred by Thorsten Hogrefe.
Catch up on the Four-Year-Old and Seven-Year-Old Dressage Horse Final results from Friday here.
Roger Fitzhardinge reports on the Six-Year-Old Dressage Horse Final, won by Exact
The final of the six-year-old class was sponsored by Leader Equine, and this is quite a complicated test with flying changes left and right, collected and extended canter, shoulder-in and half pass in trot, medium and extended trot, and medium and extended walk, as well as walk pirouettes.
It’s a very testing floor plan and the judges are now really looking for a horse working towards Prix St Georges, with more collection and extension, and a real ability to sit on the hindleg with a good, submissive contact and uphill outline.
It’s interesting to note that there are only seven horses in the six-year-old class. It does make you question what’s happened to them between the age of four and the age of six, and why they are not progressing up through the ranks. There are some quality horses, no question about that. It’s just a dedication of the riders to the discipline and the training to develop these horses.
First to take the eye of the judges was Mindarah Park Rupert (Mindarah Park Ramadan x Promise R), ridden and owned by Mary Warren. Rupert is by Mindarah Park Ramadan, the stallion that Mary produced to Grand Prix and was a winner of the World Cup qualifier at the Sydney CDI when she was a young rider.
A very concentrated trot tour, showing clear transitions and good regularity, and lovely in the content. This horse has a walk with a big over-track; it’s a lovely swinging walk through the body with a nice soft, agreeable tail carriage. There was also a clear transition to the medium walk. There was unfortunately a big lack of balance in the second walk pirouette. The canter could have shown a little more uphill tendency and freedom, but there was a very clear three-beat rhythm and Rupert showed clear differences between the medium and collected canter. All clean changes, with the change to the right a little better than the change to the left. Very positive riding from Mary and a lovely presented to test on a willing and beautiful horse. Mary rides this horse very well and there is great harmony between them; I guess that comes from a partnership that began when this horse was a foal.
The American judge, Michael Osinski, said that his test woke the judges up. His overall comment was the horse needed to be a little bit more to the hindleg for better balance, but a beautifully presented test with a wonderful attitude showing ease and harmony. Mr Osinski appreciated the quality, and he reiterated yet again that the collection is getting there but just needs to develop further. A powerful and impressive horse that makes a great picture with good promise for the future. They were awarded 80.2 for third place.
Next into the arena was John Thompson riding MI Toto (Glock’s Toto Jnr x Apache), owned by the Farrell family. This chestnut is a beautifully bred, elegant stallion with very light front feet to the ground and great shoulder freedom. An elegant horse, but unfortunately the trot in the collection was fading in and out of tempo and cadence. The canter shows good adjustability, and the stallion produced clean, flying changes – although they could perhaps have covered a little more ground. Occasionally there was a little pushing against the hand in the collection and the downward transitions. Overall, a very well presented test with just a little too much variation in the tempos and cadence in the trot work for a bigger mark.
The judges enjoyed the presentation, but felt it was a little cautiously ridden in the beginning. They found the canter dynamic and expressive, with a good hindleg. There needed to be a little more suppleness to the left in all the work and little more confidence to remain in balance throughout. Some good marks and a horse that’s built to do dressage! A score of 81.6 for second place.
The next horse into the arena was Exact (Escamillo x Sandro Hit), a horse that has drawn attention at every competition he attends with owner and rider Alexandra Vodermair. There is no questioning this horse’s quality in the trot work, with a fluent, regular, purposeful, and steady frame – although he could show more flexion and bend. The walk pirouette was a little bit backward-thinking, but then into a very fluent and easy-looking canter. Alexandra was helping the horse quite a lot in the flying changes, but he shows good quality in them – just perhaps could be a little bit better through and adjustable in the canter, then the changes will be fine. A beautiful test, there’s no question; this horse is so easy to watch.
The judges said what a beautiful, elegant horse. The trot has a natural cadence with elasticity and it was fun to watch – a highlight with a 9. The walk is pure but needs more positive purpose and reach (8), while the canter was expressive and off the ground with good hindlegs that are built for this job (8.7). Alex was quite emotional listening to the judges’ positive comments and it’s really what it’s all about: harmony and understanding between horse and rider, and rider and horse. The six-year-old final winner, scoring 86.4.
Roger Fitzhardinge reports on the Five-Year-Old Dressage Horse Final, where Mayfield Vibrance cruised to a win
The five-year-old final test has plenty of counter canter and is really a test that flows and is interesting, but certainly puts the horses in a situation where the judges can see the trainability.
Counter canter is in this test as it shows the engagement and the balance. Of course there’s still the stretching circle to show the horse’s ability to follow the contact and to stay in self-carriage and self-balance, and the feeling that the rider is encouraging the natural way the horse goes. Of course, it’s an individual test and judged from the front and not from the side, and the three judges were Patricia Wolters from Holland, Maria Schwennesen from Australia, and Jane Ventura from Australia. A very seriously talented panel of young horse judges.
Patricia was giving the comments and her attitude towards the riders and horses was truly wonderful; positive, and very to the point, expressing her way to make people understand how it could be better. It’s very simple and easy to understand, and a real learning experience for everybody.
The first was Glenhill Totil Star (Totilas x Negro), with very interesting breeding and ridden by Riley Alexander for the mare’s breeder and owner – Christan Trainor of Glenhill Sporthorses. The trot was a little tense in the environment but showed very good rhythm and cadence.
Some tension crept in to the canter work, meaning the mare didn’t stay over the back and Riley did not have the easiest ride. However, this is a horse with plenty of talent, plenty of spirit, and plenty of natural forward desire; a very interesting horse. With so much counter canter and a half twenty metre circle, this test really shows the horse’s balance and this horse is at the moment still a little too open in the canter and not quite accepting the half-halts and the collection as yet. As a consequence, a mistake in the counter canter was very costly.
Patricia Walters explained that the tension in the high-atmosphere arena made it very difficult to show the reality of this horse. Patricia explained that this tension was the bottom line problem, and underneath that tension it’s a really beautiful horse for the future, and the marks don’t really mirror the ability this horse has.
The first horse by Secret we saw was the chestnut with the white stockings, Hollands Bend Secrets Out (Secret x Furst Heinrich), ridden by Lizzie Wilson-Fellows. A very attractive gelding, showing a very lovely attitude towards his work in the arena. The trot could show a little bit more purpose, and a little more cadence, but was correct in rhythm with a lovely soft back. Because of his trainable attitude in the arena, Lizzie is able to show this horse’s potential in the canter work. It was really delightful with great simple changes, and a good balance in the counter canter. Trainability is really important, and this horse is a generous soul. 72.4.
The judges’ comments were very similar, saying he needed a little more push in the trot and the walk, with the canter a real highlight with good balance in the counter canter and the ability to make super simple changes. 73.8.
Next was Springside Marconi (Morricone x Sandro Hit), ridden by Shanon McKimmie for owner Daniel Ash. This chestnut gelding also had delightful rideability, with a very nice swinging and purposeful walk, and a good trot – but could show a little bit more topline shape and a little bit more air off the ground. The counter canter was fairly well balanced, but again the topline was a little bit flat. Morricone progeny seem to be quite renowned for their rideability and this is no exception.
Patricia enjoyed the mindset of this horse and said he was shown in a very friendly way, which they really enjoyed. For higher marks in the trot, he just needed a little more cadence. They commented that at times the poll was becoming a little too high, which did not allow the horse to stay over the back; he could’ve been a little bit more down and round to keep him over the back. 75.6.
Next was the impressive mare MP Phoenix Rising (For Romance 1x Furstenball), ridden by Deon Stokes for owner Leigh Richardson. The mare was bred by Mondomil Park. The judges liked the trot (7.8) but would’ve liked a little more cadence. The walk (7.9) could show a little more groundcover, and the canter was a highlight (8). They enjoyed the way the horse was presented in good contact, and an 8.2 for submission as they really liked this horse’s attitude, and with good hindlegs he received an 8 for perspective. Deon was very pleased with his ride on this talented mare. Second place with a score of 79.8.
The next horse in the arena was Total Impact CBM (Total Hope x Jive Magic), ridden by Robert Schmerglatt and owned by Megan McEachern. A very big, bold moving horse with an exceptional walk (8.5).
The judges agreed that the gelding was a very big mover in the arena, but the problem was the contact and the connection over the back – he just needs more time and this will be solved. The walk was a highlight. They noted in the canter (7.8), that it was often flexed to the outside, and again, the submission and the lack of feeling of over the back and into the bridle didn’t help the canter. No mistakes, and 7.4 for submission. The judges felt the horse has three good gaits and with time, better strength and a better feeling over the back and connection should develop. He will be a super dressage horse.
Next in the arena was the grey gelding, Mayfield Vibrance (Vitalis x Florencio), bred and owned by Kerry Mack. Kerry rides and trains this horse at home, with Justine Greer showing him. The dam was bred by Ulli Kasselmann’s brother. Justine Greer really showed how to ride a young horse in a five-year-old class, with a lovely feeling over the back to the bridle, clear transitions, and a really beautiful attitude towards her horse, as is the horse towards her. It was so natural, so beautiful and so easy, and the harmony exceptional.
The judges said the trot (7.8) was well balanced with good groundcover. The canter (9) was a highlight; clear in rhythm, uphill, and easy in the counter canter with good transitions and simple changes. An 8.8 for submission and Vibrance was so focused on the rider. The judges said this was a very talented horse and training along the right way. It’s super horse and 8.5 for perspective. Insa Hansen and Heike Kemmer were both very complimentary about this horse: the quality and rideability, and the way this gelding was ridden. The winner, with a score of 83.6.
Next was Aber Fashion MI (Aber Hallo 29 x Florestan 1), a little black mare owned by the Farrell family who was very beautifully balanced and ridden by John Thompson. The trot today was more forward, although there were some moments of becoming a little hesitant in the forward desire on the smaller circles. Unfortunately, there was a little submission hiccup in the walk pirouette, but overall, a delightful trot showing purpose, positivity, good ground cover and tempo in the medium trot. This mare is very silky smooth in the transitions with great mobility and adjustability.
The judges really enjoyed the trot with good cadence, but said it just needed to be a little bit more impulsive on the small circle. The walk was clear but needed more stretching to the bit and more over-track. The canter needed to be a little straighter and a mistake in the counter canter was unfortunate. They wanted to see more forward-thinking, but said this mare is a very lovely horse for the future, and very talented for the more advanced movements. A score of 77 for fourth place.
Aachen Challenge Final
Jessica Dertell claimed the Aachen Challenge Final today riding Kilimanjaro. Jess received an 8 for position and seat, 7.8 for aids, 8 for precision and 8 for general impression; combined with a test score of 71.571%, she and the stallion scored 75.536%.
Tia Rose Mckenzie and Franzisco RW were a close second on 74.322%, while Jade Wilkinson rounded out the top three with 74.125% riding Sharellen Gadarene.
CDI-Ch Children Team Competition: Milla Greenaway and SPB Robert Redford; 77.85%
CDI-J Individual Competition: Maddison Vallender and Rubinell; 72.402%
Ridden Performance Pony 4/5-Year-Old: Neka Paterson and Calveston Anastasia; 93
Ridden Performance Pony 6/7-Year-Old: Christina Grear and Parklands Celtic Storm; 95.8
Ridden Performance Pony Current Stars: Lauren Cocks and Treasured BP Hewitt; 93
Roger Fitzhardinge reports on the CDI-W Grand Prix Freestyle
The final competition to wind up an extremely successful DJWTS was the CDI-W Grand Prix Freestyle, sponsored by Change Skincare. Following yesterday’s Grand Prix, it was another a win for MSJ Gatsby and John Thompson representing New Zealand on 70.27%. A very positive start to this horse’s career; he is very young and inexperienced at the level and this is his first CDI Grand Prix Freestyle – and what a nice test. Interesting music and a quite out there and eclectic modern Freestyle.
In second place was Caroline Wagner with the elegant chestnut gelding Ibicus on 69.125%. There is no question there is a lot of scope for improvement with this combination, and to score this percentage already it’s very clear that he is a big horse for the future.
In third place was Serena Island on Royalty R, another combination just entering the CDI level at Grand Prix. This horse is coping very well with the atmosphere and demands of this test. Some nice moments, but as yet not truly established – especially in the piaffe and passage There’s plenty of room for improvement, which is exciting. A score of 68.51% for third.
It was Rozzie Ryan on Bronze Boy into fourth place. Rozzie made the job look easy with Bucky, who was Rozzie’s husband’s four-star event horse and now making inroads in the dressage world. They were a crowd favourite. Some beautiful extended trot paces, and so empathetically ridden in all the preparations and positioning for the movements, it was clear to see. Rozzie’s music was fitting with the horse and the choreography, but as yet he still needs to gain the strength in the piaffe and passage to improve the percentage for the bigger marks.
It would be fair to say that it was quite a mixed bag in this Freestyle competition. Interesting music, different music, and quite often the choreography and the clarity of the movements technically was difficult to see. It’s fair to say that some of these horses are green at this level, and it may have been better to see simpler choreography with absolute clarity towards the technical movements and the presentation of each movement.
All congratulations to Mulawa and the training and the presentation of this young Grand Prix horse by John Thompson! So ended DJWTS. The New Zealand national anthem added an international flavour to what’s been superb weekend!
Jumping
Gemma Creighton claims back-to-back World Cups
Gemma Creighton has backed up her recent debut World Cup win in Shepparton and claimed the CSI1*-W World Cup Qualifier at DJWTS with Dada Des Brimbelles Z (Darco x President). They were one of three clears, but produced the quickest time of 55.35 to just edge out Amelia Douglass and Quel Filou 16 (55.76) and Mattea Davidson with Jaybee Vigilante (57.04) in a thriller.
Young Jumping Horse Champion of Champions
Neil Diamond VBT (IM Special De Muze x Berlin) completed a near-perfect event by taking out the Young Jumping Horse Champion of Champions title. This lovely brown gelding had three from three wins at DJWTS, and was ridden by Rachael Lee of Tarraleah Performance Horses Pty Ltd. He was bred by M J Van Bergen-Tolner.
Four-Year-Old Jumping Champion: Mt Robinson Qognito (Yalambis Incognito x Quidam Du Revel), owned and ridden by Tanner Robinson, 92.023%
Five-Year-Old Jumping Champion: Nicolai and David Lever (Wirragulla Nicolaus x Verdi Tn), bred by the Dennison Family and owned by David in partnership with Lever Equestrian; 91.577%
Six-Year-Old Jumping Champion: Tulara Karash (Karajan x For Fashion), ridden by Jack Barker, bred by Tulara Warmbloods, and owned by Fiona Barker in conjunction with the late Mark Fraser and his wife Anna; 93.777%
Seven-Year-Old Jumping Champion: Neil Diamond VBT and Rachel Lee; 99.210%
Ester Bellis Trophy: Susanna Verco and Ultimate Cera Z (Untouchable 27 x Quidam De Revel)
Mini Prix: Amber Fuller and Balian DN Hop Z, 0/0/37.26
