Sue Hearn Stakes Her Claim on Rio Short List with Grand Prix Win at 2016 CDI Sydney

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2016 CDI Sydney

Sue Hearn and Remmington won the Grand Prix at the 2016 CDI Sydney on Thursday 7 April 2016. The Sydney CDI is the final event in Australia for Rio hopefuls to obtain qualifying scores for upcoming Olympic nomination events in Europe and Hearn has clearly stakes her claim to a spot on the Europe-bound Australian Rio short list team.

Partnering with her 14-year old Australian warmblood gelding Remmington, Hearn scored 68.42% for victory, narrowly defeating the second placed combination of Judy Dierks and the 10-year old Bavarian bred Diamond Star which earned 68.26% from the judges. Hearn discovered Remmington (by Riverdance out of Miss Tense xx (by Imperial Prince xx)) as a yearling and has trained him up the levels herself. She has received coaching from Miguel Tavora and Ton de Ridder in the past.

Twenty-one combinations lined up for the Prix St Georges and Australian routinier Brett Parbery topped the board on the 9-year old Danish warmblood Larenso (by Bogegardens Laurino x Solos Landwin) with a solid 71.16%. He referred Daniella Dierks on 2015 Australian young horse champion, the 7-year old Oldenburg bred Solo Feliz (by San Amour x Donnerhall) to second place with 70.11%.

In the first of the events for young riders, Mary Warren and her 8-year old Australian warmblood Mindarah Park Raphael (by Ramadan x Jive Magic) scored 66.36 per cent to win the Young Rider Team Championship Test. She edged out Rosanna Relton on the 15-year Holsteiner Four Winds Bombadier (by Brigadier x Aatel) with 65.83%.

Opting to ride the Under 25 division in Sydney instead of the senior classes, the rising 20-year old Katharine Farrell aced the Intermediaire II aboard Gregory Farrell's Luxor (by Londonderry x Argentinus). She posted a score of 67.32%, well ahead of Fern Wright on her 14-year old Welsh bred Kamber Pryderi (by Burrowa Sportsman Last x Llanarth Jack Flash) who finished second with 63.50%.