It took until late in the day for the dressage leader of the Equestrian NSW CCI3* to emerge but when Shane Rose and Taurus entered the arena it was clear this pair meant business. Shane has the ability to put on a show and that is just what he did. Sporting new tails he rode a test that had lots of flair and lots of presence. It was accurate, obedient and despite a few tiny flaws (for example where the rein back to canter was a little slow off the ground) there was a lot to like about it and the pair emerged as the overnight leaders on a score of 40.60.
“I’m really, really happy,” said a delighted Shane (pictured above), who finished the day not just leading the CCI3*, but also lying first and second in the Virgin Australia CIC2* with Virgil and Wisteria Lane respectively.
Elegant as always GV Billy Elliot ridden by Tim Boland. Photo credit: Main Event Photography
Second to Shane in the CCI3* was Tim Boland and the always elegant GV Billy Elliot. Tim was Gillian Rolton’s preferred leader with 75.2%, while the Swedish judge, Christina Klingspor, had him on 65.6%. This was the biggest discrepancy of the class and the mixture of marks left Tim and GV Billy Elliot on 43.8. After a fall at Albury CIC3* I’m sure Tim will be putting all his energies into a good cross country round tomorrow in a final bid to impress selectors.
Megan gets a hug from her soon to be husband James Deacon
Megan Jones had made the long trip to Sydney from South Australia and was rewarded by finishing third after dressage on Kirby Park Allofasudden (above) and leading the Equitak Excel CIC* dressage on Kirby Park Irish Empress. Megan could not be faulted for the accurate way she rode her test with Floyd (Allofasudden). The changes were clean, the angle of half pass was good but it just maybe lacked some of the ‘spark’ of the two riders in front of her. That said the test was certainly good enough and it earned the pair a score of 44.2.
Emma Mason gives F1 Pharinelli a well deserved pat as they leave the arena
Emma Scott (Mustang) and Emma Mason (F1 Pharinelli) took the next two places with little to choose between the two talented combinations who finished on scores of 46.4 and 47.6 respectively. Several people felt Stuart Tinney and Pluto Mio were a little ‘hard done by’ when they finished on a score of 49.4. Certainly one of the changes was better than the other but overall the test was neat and obedient and the whole outline of the horse is improving all the time.
Great things were expected of Christine Bates and Adelaide Hill and to a vast degree they didn’t really disappoint. However during the test the talented gelding appeared to get a little up tight in the half pass movement and popped into canter and then despite Christine’s best efforts he was convinced that his rider was asking for canter and not half pass. The rest of the test was a joy to watch but that mistake saw them finish with a score of 51.6 and in 11th place.
No prizes for guessing whose legs these are... Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison ridden by Sonja Johnson. The pair are in 11th place going into cross country day
With 18 riders in the CCI3* only 16 marks separates first to last so cross country day will have a huge influence. The course is beautifully built and designed in such a way that it will allow the less experienced combinations to get around but if riders want to impress the selectors they will have to take all, or at least most of the direct routes. The going is probably the best I have seen it in many years but with most of the course running on undulating ground it will not only be a test of boldness and accuracy but it will be a really good test of fitness. The water complex is well towards the end of the course and it will be a seriously honest and fit horse to take on the direct route, which involves a jump in followed by two offset houses (separately numbered).
Click on the video below to hear Christine Bates talking to John Lechner about the CCI3* track
