CP Dresden, 2023 Pacific League World Cup Winner, Passed Away

Dressage

Australia

CP Dresden, the horse that won the 2023 Pacific League World Cup final, has passed away on 4 June 2024. He was 16 years old.

CP Dresden was a 2007 born Australian warmblood by Damsey out of Callum Park Regardless (by Regardez Moi). He was bred by Susan Elekessy.

Alycia Targa

Discovered and purchased as a 3-year old by Jane Bruce and 1994 WEG team rider Maurice Bruce, the bay gelding was first trained and competed by Jane before she handed over the ride to Alycia Targa after the cheaky horse bucked her off for the third time.

Targa produced him to Grand Prix level. The gelding made his international show debut at small tour level at the CDI Orange in February 2015 and moved to Grand Prix level in 2017.

The pair competed extensively at CDI's in Australia, such as Boneo, Melbourne, Bawley Point and Sydney, until February 2020.

Charlotte Phillips

Shortly afterwards CP Dresden was allocated to the then 17-year old Charlotte Phillips as a schoolmaster.

After competing him at national Young Riders' level, Charlotte premiered CP Dresden internationally at Grand Prix level at the 2022 CDI Bawley Point. She campaigned him in 2022 at Werribee, Sydney, and Boneo before returning to Bawley Point for the 2023 Pacific League Finals, which they won.

Coached by Roger Fitzhardinge, Phillips could not make it to the World Cup Finals in Omaha because her horse was not fully vaccinated against Equine Influenza on time to ship to the U.S.A.

In 2024 they showed at the CDI in Bawley Point and Sydney.

Untimely Passing

Equestrian Life reported that CP Dresden has passed away following a severe bout of colic.

"His owner and companion of 13 years, Jane Bruce, was at his side at Randwick Veterinary hospital," Equestrian Life posted. "The reality was that a colic attack from out of the blue needed urgent attention, and it was only hours before he was in the best of hands at the vet hospital next door to his favourite competition venue, Sydney International Equestrian Centre. His pain and distress were too much and the surgery fraught with unknown consequences."

Phillips stated, "Desi changed the trajectory of my life and working with him could be likened to flying. Sadly, he grew his own pair of wings and will be dancing forever in horsey heaven. He will certainly never be forgotten."