Christine Bates and Adelaide Hill lead the CIC3*
At the Sydney Eventing Summer Fundraiser Christine Bates told us that she wasn’t coming to Adelaide to run second and she has thrown down the gauntlet in this morning’s dressage of the RM Williams CIC3*
The most unexpected weather in Adelaide has riders dripping wet as they get off their horses but Christine seemed oblivious as she came out of the arena, delighted with her ride on Adelaide Hill who leads the field on 42.20
All of Christine’s hard work has paid off as the spooky Adelaide Hill produced the goods within the white boards to be 6.4 penalties ahead of second placed Deon Stokes
Christine Bates
Deon Stokes and Crime Time
Deon was first into the arena this morning on Crime Time and led on a score of 48.6 until Christine overtook him.
While Christine rides at Prix St George, which is impressive enough, Deon is a Grand Prix dressage rider although he is always the first to point out that it is an entirely different kettle of fish to ride an eventing horse in the dressage arena than a real dressage horse
He rode two horses today and now lies in second place on Crime Time (48.60) and third on Koyuna Levi (51.70)
Tim Boland and Napoleon
Tim Boland and Napoleon are another combination that can really wow in the arena and today they were god but maybe not on the very top of their game for 51.70 and fourth place, with an error course costing them third place
Tim has competed at many events overseas and is appreciative of the efforts that have been made to produce fantastic going, not just in the arena where you honestly would not know horses have been competing in rain this morning, but also out on the cross country
Yesterday Molly Barry headed up the Bates Australian Young Rider Championship after the CCI2* dressage and today she produced a great test, much to the delight of the audience, for fifth place on 53.70, just ahead of local hero Megan Jones in sixth on 54.40 riding Kirby Park Invader
Megan Jones and Kirby Park Invader
Kirby Park Invader was one that lit up when he entered the big arena today, particularly when the speakers gave a bit of a crackle as she rode down the long side. Megan did a bit of ’German riding’ to get him back to her then rode very tactfully to get a test that she was very happy with
Shane Rose and Swiper
Shane Rose is another rider that has spent a lot of time competing overseas and he was pleased with the performance of his young horse Swiper today, who has had a bit of an inconsistent preparation due to Shane’s jet setting lifestyle. Shane and Swiper rode in fairly heavy rain to finish with a score of 55.80 for 10th place
Victoria’s Andrew Cooper is languishing down the leader board a bit in 12th place (59) but he too is happy with the horse Lagoes Choice who is having his first 3* start here
Andrew is the only rider at Adelaide this year who has three rides, one in each class, so he will be busy tomorrow on three courses he spent four hours walking yesterday
Andrew Cooper and Izzy O'Loughlin enjoying the unseasonal Adelaide weather
