Sarah Bullimore has two horses in the 5* - Conpierre (pictured) and Reve Du Rouet
The first horse inspection at Luhmühlen 2019 has got this year’s Longines CCI5*-L competition underway
All horses presented were accepted although there was a tense moment for the world number one, Tim Price when he was asked to re-present Ascona M and, although there were plenty of showers, luckily the rumbling thunderstorms stayed away
With just 34 competitors in the 5* competition, the first day of dressage gets underway at a very civilised time of 2:35pm with Britain’s Andrew James starting proceedings on board Cool Chica followed by one of our favourites to possibly win the title this year, Sarah Bullimore and Reve Du Rouet. This combination is very capable of taking the lead in the dressage; they scored 27.3 at Burghley last year where they finished fourth overall and took second place at Pau 5* in 2017
Another Brit to look out for on the first day is Alex Bragg and Zagreb who are coming off a 4*-S third place at Tattersalls where they scored 29.9 while both Japanese combinations are on top form with Kazuma Tomoto on Brookpark Vikenti coming off a 4* win at Chatsworth (where they scored 26.5 in the dressage) and Yoshiaki Oiwa on Calle 44 having finished second at Saumur 3*
Kazuma Tomoto and Brookpark Vikenti
Tim Price and Ascona M are also hot favourites, depending on how ‘hot’ Ascona M is feeling, and the first day is rounded out by a man who plans his season around competing at Luhmuhlen, Germany’s Andreas Dibowski on FRH Butts Avedon
Australia has two combinations in the 5* with Warren Lamperd’s evergreen Silvia competing here at the age of 18 and Sam Griffiths has brought his super mare, the 16-year-old Paulank Brockagh after opting to give Badminton a miss this year
Another 5* for Silvia and Warren Lamperd
The CCI4*-S Meßmer Trophy dressage starts on Thursday morning and, as is usual for the German National Championship class, this is packed with German talent including Michael Jung kicking off the class on the 11-year-old mare Creevagh Cooley, who started out in competition with Kitty King. Australia’s Kevin McNab follows soon after on board Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam, the first of his two rides in this class
Andrew Hoy’s Vassily De Lassos was looking fantastic when we saw him at Kelsall Hill for an early season hit out and talked to the owners of this talented young horse that finished fourth at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon. Vassily De Lassos recently finished third at Marbach in very good company and is definitely one to watch this week ….
Raindrops keep falling on my head .......... Sam Griffiths and 'Brocks'
World number one, Tim Price with Tattersalls 4* winner Ascona M
