Megan and Flowervale Maserati show off their moves
Megan Jones and Flowervale Maserati lead the Equestrian NSW CCI3* after dressage day on a score of 41, with Shane Rose and CP Qualified breathing down her neck just 0.6 marks behind. It was a good day for Megan who is also leading the CIC* on Kirby Park Impress.
“I think he (Flowervale Maserati) peaked yesterday because he was amazing when I rode him yesterday and probably gave me my best rider ever” said Megan “but I’m still very happy with how he went out there today.”
Take a look at Megan's test below
To hear what Megan had to say about her test click on the icon below:
Shane Rose is riding two horses in the CCI3* and while his second horse, CP Qualified put together a good test, Taurus looked a bit tense which as Shane explained in his interview below was a problem that began in the warm up arena.
Sonja Johnson couldn’t speak highly enough of the help she received in her warm up from dressage coach Harry Boldt. “Harry doesn’t say much, he doesn’t have to. I just look at him and know if something is good or not and just to have him there in the warm up gave me so much confidence.” Sonja, like Shane, has two horses in the CCI3* and finished today in third place, riding Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison on a score of 45, and fifth on Belfast Mojito (46.6).
A very happy Sonja and Harry
We caught up with Sonja and Harry after Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison’s test where it wasn’t only Sonja who was complimentary of Harry, Harry was equally complimentary of Sonja’s riding.
We didn’t’ manage to grab a word with New Zealand rider Clarke Johnstone after his test as the beautiful Balmoral Sensation looked rather keen to get back to the stables but he looked happy with this mark of 46.4. Balmoral Sensation had got a little tense in some of the canter movements and without those moments there is no doubt this test would have been in the low forties.
Clarke Johnstone looks happy with Balmoral Sensation
In the Tarraleah Performance Horses and Mitavite Young Riders CCI2* Tim Boland finished the day in the top spot riding Napoleon on a score of 47.2. The pair performed a lovely test although Tim agreed the demi-pirouettes could have been much better. It was a sentiment copied by Tim’s dressage coach, Roger Fitzharding, who stood beside us watching the test … and to be truthful he didn’t actually say ‘could have been much better’ … he was a little more colourful with his language!
Tim and Napolean on their way to a winnng test
So as Tim finished his test instead of just asking Tim what he thought of his test we asked his coach, Roger, to interview his pupil. To hear the result click below!
Second behind Tim was Murray Lamperd riding Don Skipcello, who finished the day on 49.8. Although Don Skipcello has had a few 3* runs he was short of a qualifying run to be able to enter the CCI3* so Murray is hopeful that his Sydney run will qualify him for Melbourne CCI3*. Although Don Skipcello isn’t a big horse he has a great stride and once he really matures he looks like being a good ‘second’ horse behind Murray’s top horse ‘Under the Clocks’ who is aimed for Luhmuhlen in Germany later this year.
Murray and Don Skipcello
We spoke to Murray’s wife, Jade, first to find out what she thought of her husband’s test before speaking to the man himself:
In the CCI* Lauren Balcomb leads the 28 strong field with an impressive test on her own Guido Hatzis, which scored 40.3. This pair have clocked up some great wins this season and often lead from the front so no doubt Lauren will be looking to build on her results with a good ride tomorrow around the Stuart Tinney designed course.
Christine and Dougal O'Reilly
Some six marks behind Lauren is Christine Bates riding Dougal O’Reilly. “He’s a cute little horse and he gave me a good win at Quirinidi the other weekend in the CNC*, so I’m looking forward to seeing how we go here this weekend,” said Christine. Sadly Christine, who was meant to be heading overseas to ride Adelaide Hill at Luhmuhlen has made the hard decision not to make the trip to Germany. “He had a minor problem which meant he missed out on a few gallops and I just didn’t want to spend all that money and go all that distance on a horse that wasn’t going to be as fit as I wanted him to be … mind you he felt well enough to put in a few good bucks the other day, so maybe he’s feeling better that I thought. It’s pretty upsetting but that’s horses and looking on the positive side, I have some great horses to ride at the moment so things could be much worse.”
Judy Clarke leads the CIC2* after dressage riding Diablito on 42.2 but with Emma Mason and Poker Face less than a mark behind and only ten marks separating first to tenth it’s going to an exciting day tomorrow.
