The CCI4*L undoubtedly had the worst of the weather, with the rain falling hardest throughout the class, and whilst the ground was heavy and slowed some, nothing was slowing down Sophia Hill and ‘Tulara Baltango’, who posted the fastest time of the day and were the only combination inside the time, rising from seventh place after dressage to hold top spot heading into the final day.
“[The conditions] made it more challenging and hard to make time, but once I was out on course, I wasn’t thinking about that at all,” says Sophia.
“Tulara Baltango is relatively green at this level, but he was so bold an honest; he really rose to the occasion.” Sophia is hoping he rises again tomorrow. “He’s a really good jumper, I’m hoping we can perform as I know we can.”
Hannah Klep is super proud of her horse, ‘Tulara Chicouve’ who she says “tried his guts out the whole way” to sit in second place overnight. Hannah rode to the conditions and produced one of the fastest rounds of the day, adding only 6 time penalties to her dressage score. “It was very muddy so I rode more carefully and made use of the gallop stretches to try and get as close to the time as we could,” she says, adding that after 41 efforts, it was “the best feeling to come across the finish line with a clear and fast round.”
Shane Rose and ‘Holy Moses’ were the first combination out, showing everyone that the time could be chased, adding only 6 time penalties to their dressage score. This time next week, Shane will be piloting ‘Easy Turn’ around Luhmühlen CCI4*S in Germany.
Charlee Morton-Sharp and ‘mud runner’ SV Supermaxi take CCI3*L lead
The CCI3*L cross country was very influential to the placings, shuffling the top spots and producing only two rounds inside the time.
One of those double clears was achieved by new leader, Charlee Morton-Sharp and ‘SV Supermaxi’, who displayed a sensational round of skill and style that has pushed them into the top spot, from a position of third after dressage.
The conditions today might actually have been ideal for Supermaxi, who used to be known as ‘mud runner’ in his former racing stables, always finding success on a wet track.
“It was the most technical track either of us has even seen, but I wouldn’t want to have been sat on any other horse going into cross country today,” says Charlee. Charlee admits that she is “feeling the pressure” heading into tomorrow’s final phase, but she knows the horse will try his best for her.
“That’s the thing about Thoroughbreds, just when you think the tank might be empty, they’ve always got more to give.”
Fellow Western Australian and last year’s CCI2*L Junior/Young Rider winners, Ruby Rae and ‘WHF Frequency’ have shown they are just as competitive having gone up a level to CCI3*L this year. They slotted into second following today’s ride.
Charlie Richardson and ‘Remington Hill’ were also one of the fastest on course, adding just 4.8 time penalties to their dressage score to now sit in third place. An honourable mention again to the West Aussies – they occupy 6 of the top 10 places in the CCI3*L – does the Nullarbor crossing add some magic, or were they already that way?
Niki Rose and Cooley All Over hold CCI2*L lead
The CCI2*L also had some movement occur throughout the entire leader board. A total of 35 combinations achieved clear rounds but only eight were within the optimum time, with the weather definitely having an impact on this class.
Niki Rose maintained hers and ‘Cooley All Over’ lead, adding only 1.6 time penalties to their dressage – and it’s a family affair, with Shane Rose and ‘Limitless Lodge Zsa Zsa’ just two places behind in third. Niki has just a bit more than one rail between her and Shane, but less than that between her and second place, currently held by Georgia Spangaro and OTT ‘Lord Wimborne’.
Georgia and ‘Lord Wimborne’ won the inaugural OTT CCN1*L at MI3DE last year, and that OTT element was important today, allowing him to “cope with the going.” “I was really proud of him out there today and how he handled it,” she says.
Georgia is thankful for the support of her coach, Emily Anker, who no doubt will be on hand to help tomorrow when Georgia says she “hopes to do him justice in the showjumping ring.”
Charlotte White and Remi Lord of the Realm lead CCI2*L J/YR
The CCI2*L J/YR class had an impressive 8 faultless rounds from its 26 starters. It would seem the young ones are also the very fast ones.
Charlotte White and ‘Remi Lord of the Realm’ were one of the speediest. “He really thrived out there, he just kept giving, he was super,” says Charlotte.
Despite being a little bit worried about the ground, after seeking some excellent guidance with Nina Clarke, she decided to “stick to the plan” and she’s glad she did because it was “super fun!”
Equal second place is held by three combinations. Evie Kamevaar and ‘MP Chevrolet’, who added 4.4 time penalties to their score, slowing down a little on “the boggy corners” in an otherwise amazing round with an atmosphere that she says “Chevy handled so well the whole way around.”
Kylah Brewer and her OTT ‘Princess Keikilani’ improved upon their seventh place dressage to share the equal place, and she says the mare went “surprisingly well, given how the ground was out there.”
Kylah admits that Keikilani “did her best to save my butt at a few fences and made every combination as beautifully as she could.” The final rider to squeeze onto the current second-place podium is Lamoza Velisha with her first ride ‘Call Me Cooley’. Lamoza was a busy lady today, also riding ‘Ophelie Van Prinseveld’ into sixth place, adding just three seconds worth of penalties to her score.
Marlene Battedou and Le Grand d Amour maintain CCN1*L lead
The OTT CCN1*L continued today, with the Will Foulkes-designed course proving challenging but achievable and allowing great displays of clever and careful riding in trying conditions that produced nine faultless rounds and 17 clear of jumping penalties. Marlene Battedou and ‘Le Grand d Amour’ of France maintained their lead and their score, with a beautiful and faultless round this morning.
Charlie Richardson and ‘VH Wingman’ jumped their way up two spots to hold second, in front of Shashank Kataria and ‘Tanoshi’, representing India who lie in third.
The final day of competition commences tomorrow, following the final horse inspection from 7.30am.
Results:
CCI4*L
1. Sophia Hill and Tulara Baltango, 38.4
2. Hannah Klep and Tulara Chicouve, 39.9
3. Shane Rose and holy Moses, 40.4
CCI3*L
1. Charlee Morton-Sharp and SV Supermaxi, 32.3
2. Ruby Rae and WHF Frequency, 33.7
3. Charlie Richardson and Remington Hill, 36.5
CCI2*L
1. Nikki Rose and Cooley All Over, 27.3
2. Georgia Spangaro and Lord Wimborne, 30.8
3. Shane Rose and Limitless Lodge Zsa Zsa, 33.3
CCI2*L J/YR
1. Charlotte White and Remi Lord of the Realm 33.5
=2 Evie Kamevaar and MP Chevrolet 34.9
=2 Kylah Brewer and Princess Keikilani 34.9
=2 Lamoza Velisha and Call Me Cooley 34.9
CCN1*L for OTT
1. Marlene Battedou and Le Grand d amour 29.7
2. Charlie Richardson and VH Wingman 32.3
3. Shashank Kataria and Tonashi 32.8
