CDI3* Grand Prix: Aachen ambitions on display
The CDI3* Grand Prix has attracted a high-quality field of 13 combinations, with several already achieving Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs) for the Aachen 2026 FEI World Equestrian Games.
Olympian Jayden Brown and WillingaPark Quincy B will be one many will be interested to watch having been practically unbeaten since returning from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The pair have recorded just one second placing and only one score below 0% during that period, underlining their dominance at this level.
Jayden will also present Legendary, owned by Denise Rogan, marking the gelding’s CDI Grand Prix debut.
Another major contender is six-time Olympian Mary Hanna with Ivanhoe. They are the only other combination to have secured their Aachen MERs and won the CDI-W at the High Horse Ulcer Amour + Victorian Dressage Festival in December.
Adding further depth, Emma Flavelle-Watts and Scarlatti Mio VSR, Rozzie Ryan and Bronze Boy R, Serena Ireland and Royalty R, Tanisha Ryan and Prequel, and Hannah Rockwell and Baumann’s Diorella have all achieved one MER, highlighting the strength of Australia’s current Grand Prix pool.
Emma and Scarlatti only require one more score in the Grand Prix Special to fulfil the criteria and have produced strong scores previously of 69%.
This will be one of the last CDI’s in Australia for Serena Ireland and Royalty R before they make the journey to Texas as Australia’s representatives for the upcoming FEI Dressage World Cup Final.
New Zealand rider John Thompson on the young gelding MSJ Gatsby also has two MER’s in the Grand Prix and will be looking to highlight their talent for team New Zealand team selection.
Strong CDI Small Tour and historic CDI Medium Tour
The CDI1* Small Tour also boasts a strong class with 16 combinations. Among the standouts are Robbie McKinnon and QS Sierra who have secured many Advanced Championships with scores of 76% plus. Kaila Simms and Arnage Total Bliss are another promising combination being hot on Robbie and Sierra’s heels for most of last year. Jayden Brown and Leopold also show a lot of promise and Jordan Smith and Penny Hill Park Francesca, who recently made their small tour debut at Boneo Park winning both tests with promising scores!
Making history, the event will host Australia’s first-ever CDI Medium Tour, with nine riders accepted marking an important milestone in the development pathway for emerging international combinations.
U25, Youth and Junior classes deliver depth
The CDI-U25 class may be small in numbers but is rich in quality. Jessica Dertell and Kilimanjaro are becoming more established with every test recently winning the EBM Australian Youth Dressage Championships U25 Grand Prix with all scores above 70%.
Tanisha Ryan and Jembrae Rattle N Hum will be making their CDI-U25 debut on the back of winning Medium Tour Championships at the Carlton Performance Horses Dressage Extravaganza and the High Ulcer Amour + Victorian Dressage Festival.
Bridgette Dalmau and Bon Jovi MH were the winners of last years CDI-U25 Grand Prix at Willinga Park Dressage by the Sea, the combination are proven performers capable of keeping the pressure on the field.
The CDI-Young Rider and CDI-Junior classes feature large, exceptionally competitive fields. In the CDI-Y Tia Rose McKenzie and Phenomenon have continued their successful progression from an outstanding Junior career. Rosie Heagney and MSJ Nemo recently won the Australian Youth Dressage Championships and Jazi French and Syriana were reserve, both showing lots of promise coming into this event.
In the Junior division, Millicent Fletcher and Amsterdam have likewise been incredibly successful and are ones to watch as well as Zali Mills and Royal Diamond Jubilee and Tess Baker and Rubinell.
National championships in high demand
The Advanced and Medium championships likewise boast quality and quantity. With full classes from Preliminary to Advanced and 15 on the reserve list for Advanced and 20 on the reserve list for the Medium, underscoring the popularity and prestige of the event.
