Moreira and Drosa Fürst Kennedy Score a Double Personal Best at 2024 CDI Jardy

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2024 CDI Jardy

Text and Photos © Lily Forado

From 14 - 16 June 2024 the CDI3* at Haras de Jardy in Marnes-la-Coquette (Hauts-de-Seine) was one of the last events on this final Olympic sprint to secure necessary scores for Paris 2024.

Located on the outskirts of Paris, 15 minutes from the Palace of Versailles, Haras de Jardy is an equestrian center with an unparalleled French touch. It is painted in the typical Norman colours, beautiful trees and century-old stables. This show was the grand setting chosen for the first of two Spanish Olympic battles to determine Spain's Olympic team.

The list of riders was highly international, featuring riders from Portugal, the Dominican Republic, Finland, Cyprus, Australia, Belgium, Hungary, Moldova, Ireland, Georgia, Palestine, and Spain.

With the Eiffel Tower in the Background

With their sights set on Paris 2024 and with the Eiffel Tower in the background, thirty Grand Prix riders rode to achieve their best scores and be as competitive as possible. Weather conditions such as wind and light rain slightly affected the dynamics of the test for some horses.

The Portuguese Joao Moreira and Drosa Fuerst Kennedy OLD (by Fursten-Look x Don Kennedy) were outstanding, in fact in his own league. In his first season at this level, and specifically his fourth Grand Prix, the black stallion executed exercise after exercise with elegance, quality, and above all, harmony. At nine years of age, the stallion has it all; power, electricity, and beauty. His 74.304% catapulted him to stardom.

The second place was for Simone Pearce on All We Need ( by All at Once x Fidermark) with 70.522%) while Claudio Castilla with Hi Rico Do Sobral (by Rico) finished in third position with 70.348%.

The next day, Joao continued his golden path and sealed another victory in the Grand Prix Special with a whooping score of 73.426%. Australian Simone Pearce won the Kur to Music on All We Need with 75.140% as now has a serious back-up horse to stallion Destano for her Olympic race.

Road to Paris: First Spanish Battle

The moment of truth arrived and for the Spanish delegation (José Antonio Garcia Mena with Gladiador Do Lis, Rafael Soto with Importante II, Claudio Castilla with Hi Rico-Do Sobral and Juan Matute with Lexus), Jardy was the first major competition for the final team selection.

Emotions were high, from nerves, adrenaline, fears, doubts and joy. In the Grand Prix, the last to complete in the Grand Prix race was Claudio Castilla with Lusitano stallion Hi-Rico Do Sobral. With nothing to lose and much to gain, Claudio went for it. The horse showed great overtrack in the extensions. Both the trot and canter were powerful. In the piaffe, the first of them was like a metronome, but in the second he slightly lost the rhythm. With a 70.348% he ranked third and achieved highest Spanish score.

The next day in the Special, the positions were turned around and Juan Matute along the Lexus became the highest Spaniard on the leader board. At eight years old, Lexus (by Vivaldi x Ferro) faced his fifth Grand Prix Special. As a rookie, the horse shone in the tempi changes and in the canter pirouettes. With a new personal best of 70.766%, this horse has just taken off at GP level and is a diamond in the rough, which competition after competition keeps shining.

The next chapter for the Spanish delegation will be CDI4* Kronberg and after that the final decision will be made.

Rafael Soto Rosado (son of Rafael Soto) on Importante II

Spanish Technical Dressage Director and head selector, Miki Jorda

Moldovan Tatiana Antonenco chasing MER scores on Alisa Glinka's horses. Here Aachen is depicted

Palestinian Diana al Shaer on Unazalee de Massa

Jose Antonio Garcia Mena and Gladiador do Lis