2005 CDI Sydney

Heath Ryan and Greenoaks Dundee Win Sydney Grand Prix

May 1, 2005

Friday afternoon and it's time for the much-awaited Grand Prix at Sydney CDI. The weather is gorgeous - 30 degrees and sunny skies, young horses and advanced horses going to and fro outside on their way to the top arenas and inside, all the top action.

First off the rank is Landioso and Jody Hartstone all the way from New Zealand - in fact the horse only arrived two days ago! Some lovely big tempi changes - the highlight of the test - but some resistance in the piaffe and the transitions into and out of it meant a much lower score than the rider would have been after on 52.750%.

Heath Ryan's first ride for the afternoon was DP Christopher, whose piaffe had improved on yesterday's Inter II. He missed a few strides in the middle of the one times diagonal but the transitions into and out of piaffe were smooth and fluent The score was 58%.

I've Got Rhythm was next with Ann Behrenger - not his best test with problems in the two times and one times and some changing rhythms in the piaffe/passage. Yesterday's mark in the Inter II was better - today he scored 50.125%.

Next in is Sunbury Lodge Thomas and Renee Pendretti and the little grey is bouncing around the arena so sweetly and so willing! Again, there is better piaffe and passage than yesterday - everyone must have warmed up! 59.75% and into the lead.

Jonte, with Nichola Paff, is an elegant combination that is mostly correct throughout the whole test but might have been judged to be lacking a little in engagement, particularly the piaffe, for his 56.417%.

APH True Seville and Paula Price then comes in as the best combination so far. It's a flowing test with only some missed one times to mar the flow and goes to the front with 61.833%.

HP Finagin isn't far behind on 61%, Hardly a glitch in a typically competent test from Lesley- Anne Taylor, except for some confusion into the passage from walk.

Next out is Manhattan - our first glimpse of him this weekend since he didn't start in yesterday's Inter II. Sue Hearn's enthusiastic hug around his neck at the end of the test probably said it all. He looked happy and loving his work - this despite being stuck in Melbourne for an extra week this month when he contracted travel sickness en route to Werribee and stayed until he was recovered. It was a lovely test for 64.917%.

No sooner had the crowd stopped cheering for Sue than it was time for Heath Ryan on his second ride - Greenoaks Dundee. Heath is sitting quietly this weekend - will it last through the excitement of the freestyle tomorrow? - and again it is a lovely fluent test. Yesterday's winner of the Inter II by the merest of margins over Amoucheur, he shoots into the lead on 66.125%.

“I was really happy. It wasn’t as explosive a test as usual, it was a bit safer, but it was mistake free so I was happy,” Ryan commented. Heath is very excited about the future that ‘ Dundee ’ Holds, although believes that he needs to improve a bit to be more competitive at the top level. “He’s only 10, so as far as his performance was when looking at his future I’m ecstatic, he really tried for me”.

And it is Amoucheur who comes in next with Kelly Layne, with the competition really hotting up. In fact he looks a danger even to Dundee, a spook before the two times the only hint of trouble, but he nailed them only to miss the ones. And sadly at the end of the test, a major spook as Kelly rode from trot to passage - it would have been costly with a spin and loss of centreline but a stunning recovery in time to show off great piaffe at X and finish on a high. 65.042% even despite the spook. Flash cameras are promptly banned by the commentator.

Snowy River Blackwood and Di Jenkyn are next in, with some great moments in the trot but glitches in the tempis brought the score down to 59.25%.

Centaur and Ann Serrao follows in - such a crowd favourite, the cute little chestnut fairly bounces around the arena with enthusiasm and a fantastic sense of rhythm! 65.75% and he slips into second place behind Dundee.

“It felt great in the warm up and in the middle of the test, he got a bit tired towards the end, but I’m really pleased because I feel I can get a bit more out of him,” Serrao cheerfully said “he gets a bit excited in that atmosphere, but I was really proud of him”.

And the last horse in is Crisp with Ricky MacMillan. He is another new one for the crowd since he wasn't in yesterday's Inter II but with a couple of uncharacteristic problems - a couple of hesitations in the piaffe and a feeling that the two times should be one times … he scores 64.042% and ends up in 5th place.

Ricky was over the moon with her performance, “it was the horses first start in five months but, but he was marvellous, overall I’m really happy”. The 17-year old horse, has been to two Olympics and two world championships, and still manages to be in great form.

So at the presentation it is Heath and Dundee in first place - yep, that's Heath who gets the microphone and holds onto it quite awhile in the tradition of riders' speeches. Second to Centaur, third to Amoucheur, fourth to Manhattan, fifth to Crisp, followed by APH True Seville, HP Finagin and Sunbury Lodge Thomas.

It is looking good for the Grand Prix freestyle tomorrow - the crowd is growing bigger and noisier and more supportive every day!

Text by Ann Maree Lourey
Photo copyrighted: Main Event Photography

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