FRIDAY SESSION 1:
Alex Hua Tian and Chicko are representing the People’s Republic of China. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
THE LEADERBOARD:
No change at the top after this morning’s session.
1️⃣ 🇬🇧 Tom McEwen and JL Dublin lead the way in gold medal position with a score of 26.6.
2️⃣ 🇳🇿 In silver spot is Jonelle Price and Senor Crocodillo on a score of 27.2.
3️⃣ 🇫🇷 Rounding out the rolling podium, currently in bronze medal position is Alexis Goury and Je’vall on a score of 28.5.
🇺🇲 Caroline Pamukcu and HSS Blake and Phillip Dutton and Denim are on 32.3 and 32.6 respectively, putting them in 15th and 17th position.
You’ll find the full scoreboard right here.
THE ACTION:
INDIVIDUALS:
🇲🇦 Noor Slaoui and Legende P
We start off the second day with individual riders. Noor’s welcomed into the Aachen ring by a round of applause. The crowd really have been super supportive, right from early morning starts to the end of the day. Legende P looks strong and confident and goes around in trot in a really good rhythm. He’s nicely rideable in the walk at the start but anticipates the pace change toward the end. And then things get fiery as he decides to wave to the judges. That’s a shame as it was shaping up to be a good test, just a moment of miscommunication. He settles in the canter though and Noor finishes up with a smile. The horse walks out on a long rein looking happy.
38.7
🇹🇭 Weerapat Pitakanonda and B.Grimm Chateau de Versailles M2S
There’s a moment before this pair come into the ring when the horse spooks just after the bell’s rung, but Weerapat quickly settles him and they actually get off to a lovely start, despite that difficulty. The horse blows a little in the walk but again, Weerapat rides sensitively and they do a good job. But then there’s a big spooky moment in the canter and they end up going sideways rather than forwards. There’s a camera along that side that’s caught the horse’s eye, for sure. Weerapat does such a good job but that was a tough situation to be in. The ears are locked onto the camera on the way out too. A shame as there’s clear talent and potential there.
41.4
🇭🇺 Balázs Kaizinger and Clover 15
This horse is a nice shiny chestnut who looks like he knows his job. Lots of very solid work happening in there. The horse is really trying for his rider and everything’s very consistent and correct. This guy’s walk is particularly nice. All’s well in the canter too and overall this was a very proficient test. Clear round – good job. The horse looks happy on the way out, very relaxed and pleased to be at the World Championships.
35.3
🇵🇱 Joanna Pawlak and Armin de Monsieur
Good, clean work on show from this pair, very consistent if not the most expressive we’ll see. The pair work nicely together and the horse is trying for his rider. There’s a bobble coming into the first flying change but the others are neat enough. Joanna looks very pleased at the end and there’s massive pats for the horse and lots of neck rubs. Overall, a nice morning’s work and the team look very happy.
37.2
🇩🇰 Peter T. Flarup and H.Carald Z
Peter’s a super experienced Championship rider and he comes forward with a very impressive looking 10-year-old. The horse goes in a really lovely outline and is very expressive in the trot. They trend around the 30 mark in the early stages of the test. Unfortunately he drops his head down and under rather than taking the contact forward in the walk and the marks increase for that. The canter’s got a nice rhythm but there is a little tension creeping in. What an exciting prospect though, it’ll be cool to see this horse really come into his full strength and power as he matures. Very smart and full of potential.
35.1
🇨🇳 Alex Hua Tian and Chicko
This is a stylish pair and they cut a fine figure as they make their way round the ring waiting for the bell. There’s a big cheer from the crowd as they pass and Alex smiles up at his supporters. Alex is such an accurate rider, absolutely riding for every single fraction of a mark. Their halt is fabulous. All the work is super consistent, confident and polished. There’s a bit of a look around mid-way through the walk but Alex is on it and encourages Chicko to concentrate on the job at hand. They’re back on track in the canter though, which is bold and rhythmical. This rider is such a technician, producing every single movement and responding to what his horse is offering every single second. Perfect final halt. A horse riding lesson for us, a nice start to the World Championships for Alex.
32.5
🇦🇹 Katrin Khoddam-Hazrati and Renegade*
We’re back with the teams now and the third rider rotation. Renegade is a big horse who looks like she knows her own mind. She works nicely for Katrin though, going through the movements with consistency. She wants to have a look round at the crowd but Katrin keeps her focus. The canter’s a little sticky at times, around the changes, really, although the changes are there. Katrin looks thrilled with her horse a the end. Huge smile and big pats. The mare looks pleased with herself.
38.3
🇳🇿 Monica Spencer and Artist*
Big test alert. New Zealand are currently in gold medal position as a team after two riders, shared with Great Britain on the same score. Artist has all the makings to challenge the lead and this score will give the Kiwis a three-rider total. They start off trending in the mid-20s and the extended trot is the highlight we’ve come to expect from this horse. He’s got a beautiful big walk too. A tiny bit of tightness creeps in during the canter and the trending score rises to the high-20s. Conservative scoring for the changes might make all the difference here. Sub-30 for sure. Smiles all round from Monica who waves to the cheering crowd. There’s Kiwi flags going crazy in the stands. But a real feeling that this score isn’t going to be quite as spectacular as Monica and the team were hoping for. She joins her two teammates to have already gone in the top 6.
29.2</strong
🇨🇿 Pavel Brezina and Turin*
This horse produces a consistent test and delivers the best he can do, not the flair that we see in some other horses, but all very clean and competent. He works nicely for his rider and is clearly trying. Solid and sensible throughout and a very respectable showing on the world stage. Pavel looks pleased with his horse’s efforts and the horse sticks his nose out as he walks out of the ring, clearly having tried really hard at his job.
41
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
👋 Noor Slaoui’s Legende P had a moment when the horse gave the judges a little wave. They were quickly back on track though.
👻 Weerapat Pitakanonda’s B.Grimm Chateau de Versailles M2S saw a g-g-g-ghost on the outside of the ring. Unfortunately, it wasn’t busted and the spooks continued during the test.
👏 Alex Hua Tian and Chicko elicited the cheers of the morning. He’s such a popular rider and smiled up at the crowd’s appreciation.
🩰 They may not have scored as low as they’d have liked, but Monica Spencer and Artist’s extended trot was a thing of beauty.
⬅️ Katrin Khoddam-Hazrati and Renegade exited the arena in a sideways canter after the cheers from the enthusiastic crowd lit up the mare.
THE CROSS COUNTRY QUESTION:
Eventing is not a dressage competition, we all know that. It’s an important part of the overall picture, sure, but everything can change come Saturday with overnight leaderboards being shaken up like a Boggle cube. Here’s a look at the most reliable cross country horses in the field, according to EquiRatings (with 100% XCJ in Eventing Manager), and how they fared in this session of dressage:
Peter T. Flarup and H.Carald Z have just a single cross country jumping penalty on their record from 26 FEI runs and it came way back at the horse’s first ever international result. They scored 35.1 in the dressage so we can perhaps be looking at a leaderboard climb tomorrow.
Balázs Kaizinger and Clover 15’s record is equally impressive, with 29 FEI competitions on their card and also just the one cross country jumping penalty. They’re on 35.3 after the first phase so could be in the ascendency tomorrow, depending on whether they keep the time penalties down.
Joanna Pawlak and Armin de Monsieur had a couple of mishaps right at the beginning of their relationship but have been on a streak of clear cross country jumping rounds ever since – 10 in total. They’re on 37.2.
A particular pairing who turn their hoof to dressage like pros and are also good for quick clears on cross country is Monica Spencer and Artist, who have just a single frangible penalty on their card in the whole time together, bar a 20 in their first ever FEI event way back in 2018. This Thoroughbred’s swift to boot. Their first-phase score is higher than we’re used to seeing but it’s sub-30 and likely to stay that way on Saturday.
THE STATS:
Sub-30 is the benchmark for real success in the dressage phase and one combination cracked that barrier in this session.
Eyes on EN – more World Championships action coming up soon.
Go eventing!
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