Michael Jung and fischerRocana FST
A win at Les Etoiles de Pau has eluded Michael Jung so far with his best result being third in 2012 but he has started his campaign to add his name to the list of German winners here by leading after the first day of dressage on fischerRocana FST.
After a first horse inspection that took place in early morning semi-light, 49 competitors were ready for the first phase of the CCI4* in the French Pyrenees. Michael and his first horse, the 10 year old mare fischerRocana, were fifth to go in the dressage and they posted an impressive score of 35.4 which no-one came near for the rest of the afternoon.
The pair does not produce a spectacular test – indeed the mare only scored 7, 7.5 and 8 for impulsion – but they are so consistently good and accurate that their marks add up to a winning score. The judges awarded only three marks of 6.5 with everything else marking 7’s and above, including a sprinkling of 9’s but the overall impression of their test and the scoring reflects what a master Michael is at producing mistake free, well ridden and consistently strong dressage
FischerRocana was of course his CCI4* winner at Kentucky where they scored 39.3 in the dressage and added nothing to that score but since then they have had a couple of hiccups on cross country with a trip up in the water at Luhmuhlen, where they retired on course and a fall in the water at Burghley. Michael took fischerRocana with him to Le Lion d’Angers to keep working the mare in the lead up to this event and no doubt they have been working hard to ensure that they have no issue at the water jumps here, which are known to be tricky
Sarah Bullimore and Reve du Rouet - Sarah has three horses in the CCI4*
British rider Sarah Bullimore and Valentino V, the first cab off the rank in the dressage, held the second spot on a score of 45.8 for quite a while but they were displaced late in the day by three of the last riders to go. One of these was Sarah herself on her second horse Reve du Rouet to move into third (43) while Germany’s Claas Hermann Romeike, the son of 2008 Olympic champion Hinrich Romeike moved into fourth place riding Cato 60 with a very good test for his CCI4* debut and a score of 44.1.
Claas Hermann Romeike and Cato 60
But it was Australia’s Bill Levett riding Claire Prentice's big Irish Sport Horse Shannondale Titan that took second place. At Badminton this year, the start of Bill and Shannondale Titan’s dressage test prompted Carl Hester to comment that that “This is better than anything we’ve seen so far” and, although some glitches in the canter work brought their score down to 45.8 there, there was no doubting the quality of this horse.
Today the test started with low marks for the halt but improved as it went on with three 9’s being awarded, including one for Bill’s riding, to finish on a score of 42.9 with Bill tweeting that ‘Alfie was a little tense today but plenty to be positive about’
Bill Levett and the 17.2h Shannondale Titan
Bill flew over to Pau while his groom Emily Littlejohn and Shannondale Titan hitched a lift with New Zealand’s hot couple (in more ways than one!), Tim and Jonelle Price. Jonelle rode her feisty little grey mare Faerie Dianimo, who placed second at Luhmuhlen this year, and once again had a less than perfect start to the test but then produced a lovely test for sixth place on 47.7. It must be a lucky lorry these horses were on as Canada’s Rebecca Howard finished in seventh place (48.6) on the very elegant Riddle Master, who also travelled with the Prices.
Karim Florent Laghouag is currently the top placed local rider in eighth spot riding Punch des l’Esques (49.3)
It's been a chilly start to the event and spectators needed to be well wrapped up today
Tomorrow of course the leader board could change quite a bit but it is very possible that Michael Jung could still be at the top of the leader board, but possibly on another horse. Halunke FBW, the 2013 European champion, has been saved especially for Pau as it is thought Pierre Michelet’s (FRA) flat racecourse track will suit the 11-year-old gelding for his first 4* start
Michael might not get it all his own way however as several very good combinations have made it to Pau for the final 4* of the northern hemisphere. Sarah Bullimore is a busy girl, back on Friday with Lilly Corinne, and they are ones to watch following their great performance in the dressage at Blair Castle while Tim Price’s Wesko and Sir Mark Todd’s NZB Campino are also on great form.
“I thought I was sneaking down here to steal a quick win” said Mark “But it’s turned out to be a really strong field with Tim, Jonelle, Jock and Michael Jung with two good horses. It might not be that big in numbers but a lot of quality here and it should be a good competition”
Paul Tapner is the only other rider from Australia competing here on Indian Mill
“Indian Mill is in the best form I’ve ever had him so I’m very excited about this competition” says Paul about the ‘very French’ event
Emily King, who currently leads the CIC2* on Dargun (above), is also riding at her first CCI4* competition here on Brookleigh
