It was a day of "firsts" as new faces earned CDI victories in front of an enthusiastic and sold-out VIP crowd on the second day of competition at the 2014 CDI-W San Juan Capistrano held at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park in California Sunday 23 March 2014. As the final rider to enter the Olympic Arena, Michelle Reilly saved the best for last as she earned her very first CDI win aboard Sharon Roberts' 13-year-old gray Dutch Warmblood gelding Umeeko (by Goodlord x Jacorde), earning 68.647% and the unanimous victory under all five judges.
The panel was impressed with Reilly's poise and Umeeko's obvious charisma. "We saw a lovely frame and contact, and a horse which was in real harmony with his rider," noted Lorraine Macdonald (4* CAN). "This was exactly what I think of as a 'happy athlete'."
"I'm so thrilled, I was really excited to have such a clean test," said Reilly, who has brought Umeeko along since he was seven, including a nearly two-year break from the show ring while Reilly was pregnant with her now 11-month-old son. "He was really relaxed in the warm-up, but then I picked him up and he was ready to go. He tries so hard and has such heart, and we only hope to get stronger and better from here. It's been a long journey with him but it's proved to be worth the wait."
Finishing second in the Grand Prix Special with 65.608% was German Lientje Schueler riding the 15-year-old bay Oldenburg gelding Mike Tyson L (by Michellino x Flamingo) for owner Pinky Roberts.
For the duration of the afternoon, competition was fierce among what commentator Axel Steiner (5* USA, ret) described as "one of the best small tour fields in the country." Despite her young age of seven and international debut at this level, Rosamunde rose to the challenge in the expert hands of Steffen Peters to earn her first CDI Intermediaire I victory on an impressive score of 74.518%.
"I had a lot of horse underneath me today, and this is all very new for her," Peters said of Four Winds Farm's Rhinelander mare (by Rock Forever x Fidermark). "But everything's clicked a little more over the last few weeks, especially her two-tempis, so I felt she was ready. I didn't expect her to go through the test so cleanly but she felt very confident in the movements. She's so special and I can't help but be extremely excited about her future."
Peters was also delighted when his assistant trainer, Dawn White-O'Connor, improved off of a sixth-place finish in Saturday's Prix St. Georges to place second today with a score of 70.614% aboard the 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood Aristo (by Olivi x Selina by Krack C). After Peters piloted Aristo to CDI small tour wins in Burbank last month, the decision was made to hand over the gelding's reins to White-O'Connor with the support of owner Carla Hayes.
"It all happened very fast," said Peters. "I'm very proud of her, and would love to see them qualify for the Festival of Champions in June." Even though she was riding in her first CDI competition since competing in the Junior division in 2006, White-O'Connor did not let the pressure of competition bother her, and clearly enjoyed the new partnership with Aristo. "I can't believe I did so well, because there were so many really good horses and riders in the class," she said. "But my horse felt great in the ring, and I felt like I had a little more energy to work with than yesterday."
Veteran Junior and Young Rider competitor Mackinzie Pooley continued her success in the CDI Under-25 division aboard the 17-year-old Dutch gelding Partous (by Juventus x Hemingway), earning the win in the Intermediate B test with 67.063%. Anna Buffini has proven to be unbeatable so far this year in the Young Rider tests, earning a personal best score of 73.237% in the Individual Test with her impressive 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Sundayboy (by Kennedy x Zevenaar). Finishing second was Cassidy Gallman aboard Joan Cvengros' Hanoverian gelding Grand Makana (by Goodman) with 64.605%.
Emily Park rebounded from a second-place finish in yesterday's Junior Team Test to earn 65.526% and a narrow victory today with Pretty Lady (by Iglesias x Sit This One Out, owned by Tracy Roenick) over Hannah Beaulieu of Canada riding Nancy Olson's 14-year-old Rheinlander gelding Pharoah (by Fidermark xWorldchamp) with 65.263%.
Text by Jennifer Keeler, edited by Eurodressage
Photos © CDP - Terri Miller
Related Links
Scores 2014 CDI-W San Juan Capistrano
Kathleen Raine and Breanna Win Grand Prix at 2014 CDI-W San Juan Capistrano