It is almost two decades since New Zealand hosted the Pacific League World Cup final - back in 1998 at the Ti Papa indoor arena in South Auckland – where Australian Mary Hanna and the NZ-produced Mosaic took home the title after their 66.06% freestyle win. Skip to 2017 and so much has changed: New Zealand boasts thirteen combinations entered at Grand Prix level, seven of whom will start in the FEI World Cup Pacific League World Cup Dressage Final. Unfortunately, none of the Australian pairs will make the journey to the PAL NZ Finals.
Sadly, Julie Brougham and Vom Feinsten, fresh back from their Olympic performance in Rio, and all ready with a fabulous new Freestyle have withdrawn on veterinary advice. They were in first place riding the new freestyle at the Wairarapa Regionals ten days ago, and Julie was "looking forward to Nationals and feeling very fortunate that Steiny has bounced back so easily to full work.” But unfortunately her favourite chestnut star is out of action with a slight ligament strain and will miss both the PAL Final and Horse of the Year Show in mid-March. This pair still holds the Australasian Freestyle record on 76.3%
Penny Castle and Magnus Spero (the very first members of the ‘70% Club’ at HOY
2015) have returned to the arena showing great form, winning the Int II at Taranaki on 69% and backing that up with a 67% in the Grand Prix and 69.95% in the Freestyle. Form good enough to take the Grand Prix Championship. Penny is really excited to have “Carl” back in action and is delighted with his return to the competition arena.
There will be some newly-minted musicals on show: Vanessa Way has produced a new Kur for NRM Arawn with the help of Carl Hester, which is “the hardest I have ridden in a GP but also really cool!” she says. The dress rehearsal at Taranaki proved to be a winner on 70.54%.
Wendi Williamson and Dejavu MH won’t be taking any prisoners in the tough field which features Abbie Deken and KH Ambrose, who showed some serious style last season, and 2016 Nationals Champion and Burkner Medal winner John Thompson on JHT Antonello. “The show should have all the feel of a true international competition,” says Williamson. “DJ’s preparation is going well and he’s feeling in good form. We have a new musical layout so we’re hoping the judges and spectators enjoy it.”
The FEI Pacific Dressage World Cup League Final field is a truly tightly packed all New Zealand contest: Penny Castle (Magnus Spero), Abbie Deken (KH Ambrose), Jody Hartstone (Ali Baba), William Millar (Raukura Satori MH) John Thompson (JHT Antonello), Vanessa Way (NRM Arawn), Wendi Williamson (DejaVu MH).
It is disappointing that no Australian combinations are travelling to contest the final, citing the difficulty to get horses to Omaha from this part of the world and also thinking ahead to travel plans and WEG 2018 preparation.
Excitingly, the National GP division will be judged by the same panel of international judges as the CDI-W, meaning all GP combinations have the opportunity to contest the Burkner Medal for the NZL Grand Prix Championship.
One combination to watch will be Tracy Smith and the oh so elegant, but very sensitive, Don Diego DC. Tracy has chosen to stick with the national division but showed a spark of their true capability in the Zilco Freestyle at Taranaki finishing 3rd on 67.38%
The panel includes Germany’s FEI 5* judge Katrina Wuest, FEI 4* Cesar Torrente (Colombia) FEI 4* judge Anne Praine (France). Anne is also an FEI 5* Para judge and will be a valuable asset for the Para division of riders as she evaluates their performances.
The CDI-Y FEI Young Rider class looks set to be a handbags-at-dawn-style battle between the two alpha mares Devils Chocolate (ridden by Lucarne Dolley) and Frangelico F (ridden by Sophie Griffith), their last meeting at the World Dressage Challenge seeing the former just edging ahead. Not to be discounted are two brand new combinations to the Young Rider line up: Emma Turnbull, who has worked hard to produce her own horse, Axiom and Whakatane’s Hannah Van der Horst on Moby’ll Do. Irina Smith and the aptly-named Glamour Star complete the field.
“I’m super excited to give it a crack,” Hannah states. “I’m really looking forward to getting down there and giving it my best shot.” She counts herself lucky to have the opportunity to ride the Coast-bred gelding (owned by Helen Wells), saying he is the kindest of horses and to compete him in the CDIY will be a special experience.
2017 also sees the Nationals offering the very first international Pony class to be held in NZ, the FEI CDIP. The small-but-strong start list features some familiar names including Alison Addis, Isabella Chatfield, Lilly Jefferies and Morgan Beere. It’s also great to see the German Riding Pony stallion Hilkens Denali entered with his new rider Caitlin DeLangen. This is their first season together after Caitlin’s mum Amy (literally) handed the reins over to her daughter last year. Caitlin has since experienced a rather steep learning curve into the world of dressage!
200 horses have entered for the Manfeild event, with substantial entries in both the Open and Amateur categories.
by Jess Roberts - Photo © Libby Law
Related Links
Six New Zealand Riders Already Qualified for 2017 Pacific League World Cup Finals
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New Zealand Dressage Squads for 2016 Announced
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