Teegan Ashby, 28, and nine-year-old off-the-track Thoroughbred Magic Mushroom TAE. Image: One Eyed Frog Photography.
Melbourne International Three-Day Event gets underway
By Equestrian Life
The GM Specialty Vehicles Melbourne International Three-Day Event got underway at Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre today, with two classes taking to the dressage arena. A fresh westerly wind kept everyone on their toes, but it was fortunately paired with welcome sunshine today – a pleasant change to the rain across Melbourne preceding the event!
The 4CYTE CCI3*L competitors were the first into the dressage arena for this year’s event, with a field of 19 aiming to put their best hoof forward for judges Christian Steiner of Austria, Margaret Carline of New Zealand, and Australia’s own Polly-Ann Huntington.
Teegan Ashby, 28, and nine-year-old off-the-track Thoroughbred Magic Mushroom TAE posted the best score of the day to lead the field on 30.8 penalties. Appearing on the track as Dragon Flame, Magic Mushroom TAE trialled in New Zealand but never raced – although he’s now clearly showing talent in his second career as an eventer!
Lying second in the CCI3*L is Chelsea Priestley and Southern Sandro Stern on 30.9, with Lily Wickenden and Fuerst Sensation third on 31.8, and Justine Streater riding Quintina in fourth on 32. Rounding out the top five are the winners from the CCN3* at the recent Albury Wodonga Horse Trials, Stuart Tinney and Viennese, with a score of 33.1.
Today also saw the Off The Track CCI2*L get underway, with Australians Carolyn James, Bev Shandley and Emme Flegman judging the class. Olympian Megan Jones leads the field on a score of 29.5 with Magic Park Irish Gift, with Olivia Barton and APH Sodoku a close second on 29.8. Gemma Tinney is third with PHS Hilton on 30.4, Caitlin Ward is fourth with Chardale Jett on 30.5, and Sam Cesnik is fifth with off the track Thoroughbred Giovanni Georgio on 31.
Results from today can be found here.
In Thursday’s IRT Young Eventing Horse Challenge, Carlsberg E, ridden by Olivia Shore, won the 4YO class with a score of 75.3 out of 100; Makers Mark for Chelsea Priestley won the 5YO class on 76; and Paint A Squiggle with Laura Hercules in the saddle won the 6YO class on 76.3.
Full results from the young horse classes can be found here.
The dressage continues Saturday at MI3DE with the Pryde’s EasiFeed CCI4* and Off The Track CCIJ2*L. Cross country for all classes takes place Sunday, with the final show jumping phase on Monday. While the weather outlook is typically cool Melbourne winter temperatures, so far the forecast is looking as though it should at least remain dry – so make sure you get along this weekend to watch all the action!
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