Brett Parbery and Victory Salute were the clear winners of the CDI Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Freestyle at 2009 PSI Dressage and Jumping with the Stars (DJWTS) in Werribee last weekend.
Performance Sales International Dressage and Jumping with the Stars was held at Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre 26 – 29 March 2009. The cream of Australia’s young Dressage and Jumping horses competed over the three days as well as the Grand Prix horses in the CDI 2*.
With the absence of some of the other top horses the Grand Prix classes were a little light-on this year. Heath Ryan has taken Regardez Moi to the USA for the World Cup Final, Rachael Sanna kept Jaybee Alabaster at home with a minor injury, Mary Hanna is also allowing Tango V to recover from an illness and Rozzie Ryan and Donna Carrera were unable to attend.
Victory Salute who is owned by Carolyn Lieutenant of Galston, NSW, was the obvious favourite to win the Grand Prix classes and he did it in style, winning the Freestyle by 8.25%. In second place to Brett in the Grand Prix were Charlotte Pedersen and Come to Me (by Come Back II). Runner-up in the Grand Prix Freestyle, which is performed to music of the rider’s choice, was Dr. Kerry Mack riding Mayfield Pzazz (by Jazz).
Brett, who hails from Penrose in NSW Southern Highlands, was disappointed not to be included in the 2008 Olympic Team on Victory Salute and will be hoping that continued good performances will put him in strong contention for next year’s World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.
He may have missed Olympic selection with Brett but 12-year-old Victory Salute partnered Georgia Bruce to two individual Bronze medals at the 2008 Paralympic Games “It is nice to be competing Sam (Victory Salute) again, he is a great horse and is improving all the time. I love riding him,” commented Brett.
The program of DJWTS also included the Prix St Georges Cup. The top twelve horses from the Prix St Georges go through to the Inter 1 Freestyle. The winner of the Freestyle wins the Prix St Georges Cup. This year the Cup belonged to Nicholas Fyffe of Arcadia, NSW riding Ferrero Rocher (by Florestan).
Visiting star German triple Olympic Gold Medallist Monica Theodorescu unfortunately came down with a bad flu and was not able to conduct the Saddleworld Masterclass nor ride the young Dressage horses to select the Champion of Champions, as was planned. She was quite a trooper hanging in there the first two days but was bedridden on the last day.
To the great relief of the organisers, Danish Olympic rider and trainer Lone Jorgensen was in the audience and graciously took the Saddleworld Masterclass on Monica’s behalf. Jorgensen was in the area to conduct clinics and visited the event for her own pleasure.
According to Horsedeals.com.au, Jorgensen stepped to the plate: "She of course did a wonderful job and amongst many quotable quotes and bon mots, one particularly sticks in my mind. "Dressage riding is hard work; no holiday on the horse"."
Another guest star PSI’s Dr. Ulf Moeller also stepped in to save the day by judging the Young Dressage Horse Champion of Champions, awarding the prestigious title to Mary and Rob Hanna’s exceptional stallion Shiraz Black (by Sandro Hit x Donnerhall) ridden by Mary’s daughter Gitte Donvig.
The winners of the 5-year-old, Belcam Cadel (by Capone) ridden by Bianca Barnes, and 6-year-old Dressage Championship, Shiraz Black ridden by Gitte Donvig, are eligible for selection to represent Australia at the World Young Horse Championships later in the year in Germany.
DJWTS is a unique event showcasing the best of Australia’s Dressage and Jumping bloodstock and is an event not to be missed. So mark you calendar for 18 - 20 March 2010.
Photos copyrighted: Julie Wilson - courtesy Horsedeals.com.au
For outstanding coverage of the 2009 Dressage with the Stars, check out Horsedeals.com.au
Also check out Cyberhorse's article: A Fantastic 3-Days of Horses and Horsemanship
Related Links
Scores 2009 CDI Werribee - Dressage with the Stars
Shiraz Black, Champions of Champions at 2008 Dressage with the Stars
Scores 2004 Dressage with the Stars
6-Year Olds Shine at 2002 Australian Young Horse Championship
Greenoaks Legend, Champion of Champions at 2000 Dressage with the Stars