The entry list for the Adelaide CCI4* may not be huge but you can be sure that the competition will be interesting with two Olympic medallists in the mix but also the possibility of a brand new 4* champion being made.
There are (sadly) only 10 combinations in the CCI4* so we’ve taken a quick look at each of them and provided some recent competition form. But we have to include a huge disclaimer here - of course this is only indicative of what their form is, for example, a slow cross country round recently may actually indicate careful preparation in the lead up and dressage scores at different competitions with different judges cannot really be compared so don’t take it as gospel!
One thing we’re pretty sure of is that it isn’t going to be a dressage competition, in more ways than one. Or maybe it is? None of these horses have great dressage results recently with only two combinations posting a sub-50 average so if someone pulls out a blinder of a test, it may set them up well for the rest of the competition
Preparation for this year’s Adelaide has been difficult with wet weather causing the cancellation of many competitions, particularly in Victoria, and preparation is key for these major events. The two past winners, Shane Rose and Stuart Tinney, have also been away for much of the season as part of the Australian bronze medal winning team in Rio but there is one thing for sure – these two guys will definitely both be out for another Adelaide win
Shane Rose and Glenorchy South Park at Melbourne International 3DE
Shane Rose (NSW)
Of course we have to start with the defending champion, Shane Rose who was not only the winner on CP Qualified but also runner-up on Virgil last year. Neither of those horses will be here but he is bringing Glenorchy South Park, the 11 year old off the track thorough bred started by his wife Niki and ridden to 2* level by her before the latest two-legged additions to the Rose family intervened.
Sam Lyle had the ride at Adelaide last year in the CCI2* for a very good third place but Shane has been in the saddle ever since (“I did ask Shane to ride him” said Niki at Adelaide last year ““I asked him and he said no, so I decided to spend some money and get Sam!”)
This year Shane and Glenorchy South Park had a 3* win at Camden and a fourth place in the CCI3* at Melbourne International 3 Day Event but their recent start at Goulburn saw a dressage score of 60.4 which will have to be improved on here
Average of last 3 dressage score: 55.86
Average of last 3 finishing scores: 75.3
Placings last 3 competitions Goulburn CIC3* 6th, Canberra CIC3* 8th, M3DE CCI3* 4th
Rider FEI World Ranking: 8th (451 points)
Stuart Tinney and War Hawk finished on their dressage score of 48.3 to win the CCI3* at Melbourne
Stuart Tinney (NSW)
With the retirement of Pluto Mio, it is time for another grey in the Tinney stable to step up with the 11 year old New Zealand warmblood War Hawk having another crack at a CCI4*. Stuart retired this horse on cross country last year but the horse has a lot more experience under his belt this year, including winning the CCI3* at Melbourne International 3 Day Event.
Again, he’s not a horse that has really hit his straps yet in the dressage arena but, if he’s ready for the 4* cross country this year, Stuart’s experience will shine through in a field of many less experienced competitors
Average of last 3 dressage scores: 52.06
Average of last 3 finishing scores: 66.46
Placings last 3 competitions: Goulburn CIC3* 7th, M3DE CCI3* 1st, Sydney CIC3* 5th
Rider FEI World Ranking: 40th (264 points)
Andrew Cooper and Evergem Perfection added nothing to their dressage score at Melbourne CCI3* to finish 10th
Andrew Cooper (VIC)
If someone asked who in Australia was the next Chris Burton, our answer would be 24 year old Andrew Cooper. Andrew and the 13 year old Evergem Perfection had a couple of blips here last year on cross country day, dropping them down but this is definitely a rider that we would expect one day to win the title on one of his up and coming young horses
They won the CIC3* at Canberra recently but a fall at Goulburn on cross country two weeks ago probably hasn’t been the best preparation (or then again, maybe better to get it out of the way…)
Average of last 3 dressage scores: 62.03
Average of last 3 finishing scores: 66.3
Placings last 3 competitions: Goulburn CIC3* EL, Canberra CCI3* 1st, Werribee CIC3* 3rd, M3DE CCI3* 10th
Rider FEI World Ranking: 107th (160 points)
Will Enzinger is the only rider in the field with two horses - seen here on Wenlock Aquifer
Will Enzinger (VIC)
One of Will Enzinger’s horses has won the Adelaide CCI4* but unfortunately Will wasn’t on it. Will watched from his hospital bed as catch rider Chris Burton piloted TS Jamaimo to a win in 2013; last year Will and Wenlock Aquifer finished 12th in the CCI4* with 16 penalties in the show jumping being very expensive as, without them, they would have been in fifth place, but that’s a 3 Day Event for you.
Like many Victorian riders Will headed to Goulburn to prep his horse two weeks ago but had a stop on cross country and re-routed to Tooradin CNC2* for a much better experience and even a dressage score in the high 30’s (yes, we know it’s a CNC but we are desperately looking for some good dressage scores somewhere ….)
Will’s other ride, the 11 year old New Zealand bred Britannica MVNZ had several Kiwi riders before coming to Will in Australia, including Donna Smith and Jock Paget. Britannica had a better outing at Goulburn, finishing ninth and was third in the CIC3* at Canberra. The atmosphere on dressage day may cause problems for this horse but Will handles it amazingly well so fingers crossed for them
Rider FEI World Ranking: 191st (115 points)
Wenlock Aquifer
Average of last 3 dressage scores: 48.86
Average of last 3 finishing scores: 82.46
Placings last 3 competitions: Goulburn CIC3*17th, Canberra CCI3* RT, Werribee CIC3* 6th, Ballarat CIC3* RT, Camperdown CIC3* 1st
Britannica MVNZ
Average of last 3 dressage scores: 60.33
Average of last 3 finishing scores: 79.93
Placings last 3 competitions: Goulburn CIC3*9th, Canberra CCI3* 3rd, Werribee CIC3* 9th
Emily and Jocular Vision are heading east for another crack at completing a CCI4*
Emily Gray (Western Australia)
At 22 Emily Gray is the youngest in the 4* field but is making her second attempt at the Adelaide CCI4*. All the way from Western Australia, Emily and her 12 year bay gelding Jocular Vision fell on cross country last year but will no doubt have learned from the experience and have had good results in recent competitions over in WA
Rider FEI World Ranking: 530 (45 points)
Average of last 3 dressage scores: 62.31
Average of last 3 finishing scores: 71.18
Placings last 3 competitions Pinjarra WA 2nd, Wooroloo WA 2nd, Melbourne 3DE CCI3* 11th
Will time fly for Tegan the Tiger on cross country?
Tegan Lush (Western Australia)
Tegan and Tempus Fugit were sixth in the CCI4* here last year but it was a bit of a cricket score finishing on 98.20. Tegan deliberately didn’t wear a stop watch and was really happy with a clear jumping round with 23.2 time although 13 penalties in the show jumping left her with ‘lots to work on, including my nerves!’
Ironically for Tempus Fugit (or maybe aptly) making time is their biggest problem having only made time on cross country once in their international career but at Pinjarra WA in September they finished with only 0.4 time penalties in the CIC3* so is this a new strategy at work? We’ll have to wait and see .....
For anyone wondering about Tegan’s very noticeable cross colours – Tempus Fugit was named Fearful Symmetry, a poem about a tiger and that’s when the orange and black colours were born! So go Tegan the Tiger .....
Rider FEI World Ranking: 57 (226 points)
Average of last 3 dressage scores: 60.84
Average of last 3 finishing scores: 77.82
Placings last 3 competitions: Pinjarra WA 3rd, Wooroloo WA 1st, Melbourne 3DE CCI3* 16th
Look out for the dark horse - Rohan Luxmoore's Bells 'N Whistles
Rohan Luxmoore (VIC)
When Rohan Luxmoore won the CCI2* at the Melbourne International 3 Day Event in 2013, Rohan seemed more surprised than anyone! Riding the home bred Irish Sport Horse/TB Bells ‘N Whistles (Shady) that Rohan has done everything with, the galloping vet does not compete much outside of Victoria due to his busy work life but this pair place consistently and in general they are pretty fast on cross country. They also headed to Goulburn and finished fourth in the CIC3*
Rider FEI World Ranking: 235 (101 points)
Average of last 3 dressage scores: 53.13
Average of last 3 finishing scores: 68.46
Placings last 3 competitions: Goulburn CIC3* 4th, Werribee CIC3* 4th, Melbourne 3DE CCI3* 15th
Hazel Shannon is on great form and Clifford is ranked 5th in the recent 2016 FEI/WBFSH eventing horse rankings
Hazel Shannon (NSW)
And so we come to the winner at Goulburn, Hazel Shannon and her 11 year old thoroughbred Clifford. Trained by Heath Ryan, the pair can pull out a (just) sub-50 score which is more than many of the others have done recently and are pretty fast on cross country, being the only combination to make time at Goulburn although this was the first time they had made time. It was also their first clear show jumping round so maybe it is all coming together for Hazel at the right moment
She has had a good year as her FEI ranking shows and we found out more at Goulburn about her preparation for Adelaide in this interview
Rider FEI World Ranking: 19th (321 points)
Average of last 3 dressage scores: 49.6
Average of last 3 finishing scores: 53.33
Placings last 3 competitions: Goulburn CIC3* 1st, Tamworth CIC3* 1st, Melbourne 3DE CCI3* 5th
Andy Daines and Spring Panorama are making their CCI4* debut
Andy Daines (NZ)
The 12 year old Irish Sport Horse Spring Panorama is the ‘horse of a lifetime for me’ says Andy. Bought in the UK when Andy was based with Tim and Jonelle Price, the pair competed at a few events in England and Ireland, including a eighth place finish in the CCI2* at Ballindenisk in 2012, before bringing the horse back to New Zealand
A lovely looking horse that should be able to put in a good dressage test but can tend to get a bit ‘hot’ in the arena atmosphere as Andy told us at Puhinui last year
Rider FEI World Ranking: 214th (108 points)
Average of last 3 dressage scores: 54.43
Average of last 3 finishing scores: 86.03
Placings last 3 competitions: Taupo CIC3* 1st, Taupo CCI3* 5th, Kihikihi CIC3* 5th
