It was another spectacular day at the 2016 CDI Hastings Horse of the Year Show in New Zealand with the weekend crowds pouring in the gates to watch the top-end dressage classes. Although very hot, the stands were packed for most of the day and spectators were treated to some fantastic performances.
The Grand Prix Special saw the top four placegetters separated by less than one percent, John Thompson and the 14-year old Hanoverian Antonello (by Anamour x Winnebago) coming out on top with 69.896%, but just shy of the elusive 70% score he is chasing for Olympic qualification.
"It's the last qualifier for the Olympics for me on home soil. So it means quite a bit to put my best foot forward here," said Thompson
Second went to Wendi Williamson, the Special suiting her big black Hanoverian gelding Dejavu (by De Niro), while Abbie Deken rode – what looked like – one of her best tests to date on her 14-year old KH Ambrose (by Anamour x Winterkönig), scoring 69.083%. She beat Julie Brougham and her 13-year old Rhinelander Vom Feinsten (by Fidermark x Weltmeyer) into fourth plac. Brougham’s test with just a few little mistakes that chipped away at her score to finish on 68.938%.
The decider for the Dressage Horse of the Year title is Sunday’s crowd-pleaser: the musical freestyle. The points gained in this test are worth one-and-a-half times more than the points allocated for the Special so it would be a brave person to try and pick which combination is going to go home with the most prestigious prize on the dressage calendar.
by Jess Roberts
Related Links
Scores 2016 CDI Hastings
Brougham Sets the Bar High at 2016 CDI Hastings