Update: Sydney CDI3* Grand Prix Goes to Rozzie Ryan & Jive Magic, Freestyle to Rachael Sanna & Jaybee Alabaster
15 years ago StraightArrow Comments Off on Update: Sydney CDI3* Grand Prix Goes to Rozzie Ryan & Jive Magic, Freestyle to Rachael Sanna & Jaybee Alabaster
SYDNEY, May 1–Rozzie Ryan rode Jive Magic to win the Sydney CDI3* Goldin Grand Prix on Friday in the last opportunity for Australian riders based Down Under to seek a place on the team for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky Sept. 25-Oct. 10. In the Freestyle on Saturday that did not count for WEG qualifying, Rachael Sanna and Jaybee Alabaster took first place.
Rozzie and the 14-year-old Jazz stallion scored 66.085 per cent in the Grand Prix, with Rachael and Jaybee Alabaster in second place with 65.787 per cent and Charlotte Pedersen and Come to Me in third with 64.894 per cent.
Heath Ryan, husband of Rozzie and the most experienced locally based international-level active rider, and his 2009 World Cup mount, Regardez Moi, finished ninth on a score of 61.362 per cent. Heath suffered a stroke shortly after returning home from the Las Vegas World Cup Final.
Rachael and Jaybee Alabaster’s winning score in the frestyle was 73.750 per cent, with Rozzie and Jive Magic placing second on 71.700 per cent with Jody Hartstone on Whisper IV third with 66.850 per cent.
Jive Magic showed improved maturity throughout the Grand Prix and Rozzie said, “He is now starting to get his head around the Grand Prix. It is lovely when they start to understand and then they can start to gain confidence. Once they get confident then you are away.”
Rozzie placed second to Rachael Sanna in the Grand Prix and Freestlye at Dressage with the Stars in Melbourne in March.
“Rachael is a ferocious competitor and after Melbourne she inspired me to go home and work really hard,” Rozzie said.
Rachael and Alabaster made a few mistakes that lowered their score in Sydney.
“He was a bit of a firecracker today but I am very very happy with the horse in so many things. His piaffe and passage were a lot better. I had a lot of mistakes which you can’t do at this level, but his recovery from mistakes has improved a lot in the last six to 12months. I wasn’t expecting him to be so above himself today, I could have warmed-up a little longer. I really wish some of the mistakes had not happened but overall I am not too upset with him.”
Wim Ernes of The Netherlands, president of the ground jury, commented: “It was a nice group of riders, a clear top four and a big mid-field and some that had problems.”
Axel Steiner, an “O” level judge from the U.S., said that riders need to be aware of transitions and the set up of movements as this was where marks were lost in the Grand Prix.
Maribel Alonso of Mexico remarked how riders are placed under pressure when trying to qualify for a big event such as WEG.
“Limited opportunity for qualification is tough,” Rozzie said. “When you know this is the LAST chance. It is good for you but tough.”
Kristy Oatley, Australia’s top dressage rider and based in Germany, is competing her 2008 Olympic mount, Quando-Quando, for a place on the WEG team. Brett Parberry on Victory Salute competed at major European shows in the summer of 2008, returned home to qualify for the 2010 World Cup and based the horse in The Netherlands after competing in the Final at ‘s-Hertogenbosch in March. Lyndal Oatley, Kristy’s cousin, is also based in Europe and is competing successfully at CDIs.
For Grand Prix results click SydneyCDI2010_GP_CDI.
For Grand Prix Freestyle results click SydneyCDI2010__GPKur
