Main image: Will Matthew and Mysterious Star will be in action for Australia on day two of the Grand Prix. Image by LL Foto.
Inside Paris | Presented by International Horse Breeders
The second day of Grand Prix action begins today in Paris, from 6pm AEST (10am CEST). Here are Roger Fitzhardinge’s combinations to watch.
Charlotte Fry & Glamourdale (Great Britain) – 10:00 AM CEST / 06:00 PM
How can you look past Lottie Fry and Glamourdale. This uphill black stallion shows the controlled power expected at the level and ridden by the beautifully positioned and diminutive Lottie. The overall picture is so wonderful and make sure you feast your eyes on the extended canter: it scores often a TEN! The elegance and the purity of the huge strides are exemplary and as no other. When you compare the two differing styles of Dalera and Glamourdale, it’s each to their own. Dalera has more lightness and a looser connection and way of going, but not showing the power that Glamourdale produces. Glamourdale shows a more powerful type of expression and with enormous and expressive changes and extensions (watch the two tempis!)
Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour & Freestyle (Denmark) – 10:38 AM CEST / 06:38 PM AEST
Who can’t wait to see Freestyle for Denmark’s Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour. What a combination with harmony that oozes. This elegant brown horse has no glitches in what has become a seamless association of ideas and movements. It’s all so easy. It’s all elegant and light-footed and the expression is one of confidence, ease and athleticism. What seems to set them apart from the others is that there are no weak areas; no particularly outstanding move, but everything good. Walk, trot, canter, piaffe, passage and all associated movements could easily all gain 8s and above! Submission, great contact, change of frame, relaxation. Cathrine is a rider that also exudes confidence and humility. This is a red-hot tip, but their lead up was marred by a minor injury so perhaps lacking a little match practice.
Henri Ruoste & Tiffanys Diamond (Finland) – 11:06 AM CEST / 07:06 PM AEST
Henri Ruoste of Finland is riding the mare Tiffanys Diamond, who is young at the level but has certainly been making headlines. A very interesting ride and Henri a great rider and talent, and a mare that though young and inexperienced, could well rise to the fore.
William Matthew & Mysterious Star (Australia) – 12:19 PM CEST / 08:19 PM AEST
Eleven-year-old Mysterious Star and William Matthew will be ones to watch out for, for sure. Will has ridden Mysterious Star, by Metall, for owner Stephanie Göller since the horse was a five-year-old. The horse came to him while working in Austrian for the Hödl Family and has stayed with him since.
Will is originally from Perth and has been in Germany for over a decade, and since 2019 he has ridden a half day for Isabell Werth six days a week! He is a worker and a delightful young gentleman at the mere age of 30! You can read more about Will’s backstory and dressage journey in Europe in the December 2021 issue of Equestrian Life here.
The pair’s PB Grand Prix score is 69.630%, which was actually at their last start – and their next best at 69.434% was achieved the start before that – so they are on an upward trajectory in terms of scores. You can read more about Will where his journey to Paris began in the June 2023 issue of Equestrian Life here.
Julio Mendoza Loor & Jewel’s Goldstrike (Ecuador) – 12:47 PM CEST / 08:47 PM AEST
Julio Mendoza Loor of Ecuador on Jewel’s Goldstrike was a big-time crowd favorite at Aachen, winning the CDI4* Freestyle. This beautifully put together chestnut horse with such a wise and willing face has amazing piaffe and passage, with cute, compact and powerful collection and expression. A real international flavour with Julio being an individual rider from Ecuador. They have scored mid 70% at GP and over 80% in the Freestyle. A great combination of good training and empathetic riding.
Therese Nilshagen & Dante Weltino OLD (Sweden) – 01:16 PM CEST / 09:16 PM AEST
Of all the beautiful stallions, don’t miss Dante Weltino for the petite and wonderful Therese Nilshagen of Sweden. If you want 10 then this is another one here for the extended trot. What a beautiful horse and what personality. He is a big character, and he always seems to want to make a movement or two with his own twist on it! He thinks it’s cool, but it’s actually a mistake or two. With a clean test and a piaffe that stays in front of Therese, the marks are definitely there. No matter what, they are truly inspiring and beautiful. You want beautiful, well it’s all there.
Emmelie Scholtens & Indian Rock (Netherlands) – 01:25 PM CEST / 09:25 PM AEST
The stallion Indian Rock for Emmelie Scholtens of the Netherlands is one that always impresses. The power and balance and compression this horse can show is extraordinary and what a huge horse he is. He is one that really can sit and take the weight, especially in the piaffe with wonderful freedom of the shoulders from this uphill balance. They are a treat to watch and he’s a stallion with great ability.
Hans Peter Minderhoud & Toto JR. (Netherlands) – 01:55 PM CEST / 09:55 PM AEST
When looking at the Dutch there is Hans Peter Minderhoud and Toto Jr. This smaller black stallion is full of bounce and collection. He perhaps lacks the scope of some of the others but for a pocket rocket he is the goods. A little lacking big scores as yet, but no time like an Olympics to bring the best out in Hans Peter!
Simone Pearce & Destano (Australia) – 02:42 PM CEST / 10:42 PM AEST
Simone Pearce and Destano have had a lot of international experience. Destano is a 17-year-old stallion by Desparados and has represented Australia at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago. Owned by Gestüt Sprehe, Simone began riding him while working there; the partnership ended early 2022 when Simone moved on to a new stable, however at the end of last year they were happily reunited and have picked up where they left off.
Simone’s experience and savviness in the ring is quite amazing. She is a real talent and well known in European dressage circles. Simone knows Destano well and a score over 70% will be very possible. In fact, their PB in the Grand Prix test is a whopping 76.261%! Destano is a big mover with no glitches in his repertoire and Simone will make the most of every movement. The atmosphere should work in Destano’s favour.
Simone Pearce and Destano will be the final combination to ride for Australia. Image by Petra Kerschbaum/EQWO.net.
Melissa Galloway & Windermere J’Obei W (New Zealand) – 02:52 PM CEST / 10:52 PM AEST
New Zealand has Melissa Galloway with J’Obei W. They are competing as an individual and will be pushing to get in the top 18 for the Freestyle, but maybe a PB and see how it pans out. A must to watch. This horse Aussies saw at Willinga Park at Dressage By The Sea a few years ago as a young Grand Prix horse, where he won with great scores over 70%. He’s since been back competing on Australian shores with huge success. They have been training with Anne van Olst (who is also training Lottie Fry) in Holland and they are ready to bring out the bigger scores. A good showing at the FEI World Championships in Denmark and in Aachen this year with some impressive work. Harmonious and a delight to watch, they have plenty of experience under their belt and girth.
Steffen Peters & Suppenkasper (United States of America) – 03:01 PM CEST / 11:01 PM AEST
We have come to expect big things from fellow US rider Steffen Peters with Suppenkasper. At Aachen they unfortunately appeared quite tense and there were some balance and rhythm mistakes that were costly. Best leave that performance behind and it will be interesting to see them here in Paris.
Pauline Basquin & Sertorius de Rima Z (France) – 03:11 PM CEST / 11:11 PM AEST
You always need a hometown favourite and that would be Pauline Basquin and Sertorius De Rima Z. At first glance, they don’t blow you away but they show smooth compliancy in all the movements. The harmony mark is high and so is the smoothness of the test, but to be up in the medals it seems that they need to show better energetic collection and more adjustability forwards and back. The judges gave the combination good marks in Aachen and being at Versailles and in front of a patriotic French crowd, they could well get that bigger lift and energy. The judges like her and the way she rides.
Jessica von Bredow-Werndl & TSF Dalera BB (Germany) – 03:20 PM CEST / 11:20 PM AEST
TSF Dalera BB for Jessica von Bredow-Werndl must be an odds-on favourite for the Freestyle individual medal decider, being the winner so often with consistently brilliant scores and of course the reigning Olympic champion from Tokyo. Again, harmonious riding and a regal look. A beautiful mare that has swept all before her. The mare has strengths in the piaffe and passage tour, as her tempo and exceptional ease that she makes the transitions in and out will gain her a valuable edge – but she isn’t always perfectly confident in the changes and a mistake here and playing the Grand Prix test a bit safe here may leave the door ajar for the likes of Glamourdale and Freestyle. However, she is very well credentialed, and the judges have a good feel by now for what she scores. It will be interesting to see her at the first halt as there have been several tests where the initial halts were not truly established, and she’s had to claw back marks after starting.
