Super Nova, Rose of Bavaria, Cosmo Stay Home from CDI's on Week 19, Lorenzo Comes Back

Dressage

Great Britain

Three CDI's are taking place week 19 of 2021: CDI Wellington (GBR), CDI Munich (GER) and CDI Grote Brogel (BEL). Three well known elite dressage horses have been withdrawn from competition: Super Nova, Rose of Bavaria and Cosmo. One is making a long-awaited come back: Lorenzo.

CDI Wellington

The brand new CDI Wellington has been granted Olympic qualification status, which means that the best of the British senior riders are all entered in their bid for a place on the Tokyo plane and a spot for September’s European Championships in Hagen.

Spencer Wilton and Super Nova were on the master list. The pair represented the U.K. at the 2016 Rio Olympics, 2017 European Championships and 2018 World Equestrian Games. Their last CDI start dates back to the CDI Keysoe in March 2020. Unfortunately, Wilton withdrew Super Nova a few days before the show because the rider is injured. For years the Cotwolds' based Wilton has been plagued by serious back problems and they flared up again.

"I had three injections a couple of weeks ago that have helped but not completely," Spencer told Eurodressage. "My back actually feels good but I'm getting a lot of severe cramps in my left leg so the consultant wants to try another non surgical procedure to sort that out. Hopefully within the next week. (I have to take it) 48hrs easy and then I’ll be up and running again, fingers crossed. If all goes well Compiegne and Le Mans (will be next). It's very frustrating as I did a national show a couple of weeks ago and did a personal best in the GP of 79%! Only a small show but he felt great."

Laura and Rose of Bavaria (Photo © Jon Strouc)

Laura Tomlinson is entered in Wellington with her rising star Fallatijn, but she is leaving home her number one contender for a team spot this year, Rose of Bavaria. The 11-year old Bavarian warmblood mare (by Bordeaux x Florestan) finished fifth at the 2020 British Grand Prix Championships in December with scores of 75.46% in the Grand Prix (75.46 %) and 79.95 % in the Kur.

"Sadly I have to wait until CDI Compiègne at the end of May to make a late surge into my Olympic campaign with beautiful Betty, due to her having had a bit of a rubbish time after her 2nd Herpes vaccination," Tomlinson explained. "So fingers crossed she can come out firing at the end of May but in the meantime I’m super excited to take Finn to his 2nd CDI."

CDI Munich

German Olympic team rider Sönke Rothenberger is a no show with his top ride, 13-year old Dutch warmblood gelding Cosmo (by Van Gogh x Landjonker). Although initially entered and included on the FEI Master List, Cosmo has now been withdrawn.

In an interview with Dressursport Deutschland, Rothenberger stated that, "for now, Munich is not on the plan with Cosmo."

Since 2016 Cosmo has only been doing two, maximum, three CDI's per year before the big national summer championship. The 13-year old has not been out to show since the 2019 European Championships in Rotterdam, where they won team gold, but did not move to the freestyle after placing sixth in the Special with 78.115% but as fourth German (only three per nation move on to the freestyle).

CDI Grote Brogel

At the international dressage competition at Breugelhoeve equestrian centre in Grote Brogel, Belgium, a world famous horse will make his long-awaited come back: Lorenzo.

Jurado Lopez and Lorenzo at the 2016 Olympics

After placing fifth in the Kur to Music at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games under Spanish Severo Jurado Lopez, the now 15-year old Bavarian bred Lorenzo (by Lord Loxley x Rubin Royal) competed in two more CDi's, his last being the CDI-W Amsterdam in January 2017, where the pair was eliminated for blood. Lorenzo sold to American Charlotte Jorst but injured himself and needed a full four years to recover.

Now paired to Swedish Jeanna Hogberg, but still co-owned by Jorst in partnership with Helgstrand Dressage, Lorenzo is set to make his come back in Grote Brogel on 14 May 2021.