The much-anticipated CDI gala Freestyle evening was given even more dramatic intensity this year, principally by the judicial indecision of the EFA Grand Prix the day before.
Each of the five judges had a different winner, with FEI Foreign judge, Eric Lette giving Sue Hearn’s Thoroughbred, Manhattan by Twenty-Four Karat an impressive 68.33%. At the end of the competition this ever-improving horse settled into third place with and overall percentage of 64.91%.
North American judge, Lilo Fore had Heath Ryan and Greenoaks Dundee in first place with 66.67%. That Clyde Wunderwald’s big, imported 10 year-old gelding by Duntroon eventually won the competition with 66.12% was no surprise, as he continues to improve and produce more relaxed and correct movement to add to his scope. Australian judge, Susie Hoevenaars had Ann Serrao’s Copernicus gelding, Centaur, first with 66.45% and the delightful chestnut rested finally in second place with 65.75%.
Australian O Level judge, Mary Seefried gave Kelly Lane and Amoucher her winning vote with 66.87%. The imported and talented gelding by Archipel eventually took third prize with 65.04%. And lastly, New Zealand’s Kathinka de Monchy had the dominant Australian dressage force of the new century, Crisp and Ricky MacMillan in first place with 66.67%. Amazingly Crisp, who certainly was not ‘on song’ in the Grand Prix, finished in fifth place. This fact in itself was indeed remarkable as, since Crisp arrived from Germany to join the Sydney Olympic team in 2000, he has never placed fifth in a Grand Prix in Australia and has earned the right to represent his adopted country at the last five World Cup Finals.
This was news and it spread like wildfire. Horses are not machines, even the outstanding Consul gelding. There was quite a sense of nervous tension amongst the standing room only crowd, present to witness a possible ‘changing of the dressage guard’ in the Hamilton Island Grand Prix Freestyle. Out in reverse order of grand Prix placing, Sue Hearn and Manhattan applied the pressure with some lovely work, rather ironically executed in part to “We’re having a heat wave”, for 69.40%. Crisp and Ricky have over the years become a popular combination and the attentive and appreciative crowd was even more so. Was this the end of a fabulous career? Heavens no! Ricky once again produced a super test with Crisp executing his point grabbing passage/piaffe as well as ever. Just to prove the point, Ricky went ‘one handed’ for the passage pirouettes and most notably for some beautifully executed tempi changes down the centre line, with Ricky all the while fixing her charming smile on the judge at C, Mr. Lette. The music, the choreography and the test earning an unbeatable 74.70%. Eric Lette enjoyed the test sufficiently for an artistic mark of 83.25%. It was felt that Greenoaks Dundee at the beginning of his Grand Prix career was not yet ready to topple the reining World Cup winners. Heath as always produced an entertaining test with Dundee much happier in his work and the music, the dramatic mix from ‘The Patriot’. His final score a well deserved 70.30%.
By Ann Sharply
Heath Ryan and Greenoaks Dundee Win Sydney Grand Prix
Friday afternoon and it's time for the much-awaited Grand Prix at Sydney CDI. The weather is gorgeous - 30 degrees and sunny skies, young horses and advanced horses going to and fro outside on their way to the top arenas and inside, all the top action.
First off the rank is Landioso and Jody Hartstone all the way from New Zealand - in fact the horse only arrived two days ago! Some lovely big tempi changes - the highlight of the test - but some resistance in the piaffe and the transitions into and out of it meant a much lower score than the rider would have been after on 52.750%.
Heath Ryan's first ride for the afternoon was DP Christopher, whose piaffe had improved on yesterday's Inter II. He missed a few strides in the middle of the one times diagonal but the transitions into and out of piaffe were smooth and fluent The score was 58%.
I've Got Rhythm was next with Ann Behrenger - not his best test with problems in the two times and one times and some changing rhythms in the piaffe/passage. Yesterday's mark in the Inter II was better - today he scored 50.125%.
Next in is Sunbury Lodge Thomas and Renee Pendretti and the little grey is bouncing around the arena so sweetly and so willing! Again, there is better piaffe and passage than yesterday - everyone must have warmed up! 59.75% and into the lead.
Jonte, with Nichola Paff, is an elegant combination that is mostly correct throughout the whole test but might have been judged to be lacking a little in engagement, particularly the piaffe, for his 56.417%.
APH True Seville and Paula Price then comes in as the best combination so far. It's a flowing test with only some missed one times to mar the flow and goes to the front with 61.833%.
HP Finagin isn't far behind on 61%, Hardly a glitch in a typically competent test from Lesley- Anne Taylor, except for some confusion into the passage from walk.
Next out is Manhattan - our first glimpse of him this weekend since he didn't start in yesterday's Inter II. Sue Hearn's enthusiastic hug around his neck at the end of the test probably said it all. He looked happy and loving his work - this despite being stuck in Melbourne for an extra week this month when he contracted travel sickness en route to Werribee and stayed until he was recovered. It was a lovely test for 64.917%.
No sooner had the crowd stopped cheering for Sue than it was time for Heath Ryan on his second ride - Greenoaks Dundee. Heath is sitting quietly this weekend - will it last through the excitement of the freestyle tomorrow? - and again it is a lovely fluent test. Yesterday's winner of the Inter II by the merest of margins over Amoucheur, he shoots into the lead on 66.125%.
“I was really happy. It wasn’t as explosive a test as usual, it was a bit safer, but it was mistake free so I was happy,” Ryan commented. Heath is very excited about the future that ‘ Dundee ’ Holds, although believes that he needs to improve a bit to be more competitive at the top level. “He’s only 10, so as far as his performance was when looking at his future I’m ecstatic, he really tried for me”.
And it is Amoucheur who comes in next with Kelly Layne, with the competition really hotting up. In fact he looks a danger even to Dundee, a spook before the two times the only hint of trouble, but he nailed them only to miss the ones. And sadly at the end of the test, a major spook as Kelly rode from trot to passage - it would have been costly with a spin and loss of centreline but a stunning recovery in time to show off great piaffe at X and finish on a high. 65.042% even despite the spook. Flash cameras are promptly banned by the commentator.
Snowy River Blackwood and Di Jenkyn are next in, with some great moments in the trot but glitches in the tempis brought the score down to 59.25%.
Centaur and Ann Serrao follows in - such a crowd favourite, the cute little chestnut fairly bounces around the arena with enthusiasm and a fantastic sense of rhythm! 65.75% and he slips into second place behind Dundee.
“It felt great in the warm up and in the middle of the test, he got a bit tired towards the end, but I’m really pleased because I feel I can get a bit more out of him,” Serrao cheerfully said “he gets a bit excited in that atmosphere, but I was really proud of him”.
And the last horse in is Crisp with Ricky MacMillan. He is another new one for the crowd since he wasn't in yesterday's Inter II but with a couple of uncharacteristic problems - a couple of hesitations in the piaffe and a feeling that the two times should be one times … he scores 64.042% and ends up in 5th place.
Ricky was over the moon with her performance, “it was the horses first start in five months but, but he was marvellous, overall I’m really happy”. The 17-year old horse, has been to two Olympics and two world championships, and still manages to be in great form.
So at the presentation it is Heath and Dundee in first place - yep, that's Heath who gets the microphone and holds onto it quite awhile in the tradition of riders' speeches. Second to Centaur, third to Amoucheur, fourth to Manhattan, fifth to Crisp, followed by APH True Seville, HP Finagin and Sunbury Lodge Thomas.
It is looking good for the Grand Prix freestyle tomorrow - the crowd is growing bigger and noisier and more supportive every day!
Text by Ann Maree Lourey
Photo copyrighted: Main Event Photography
Related Links
Australia's Elite Gathers at the 2005 Sydney
Scores 2005 CDI Sydney