Drummer Boy marches to victory
A British-bred horse takes the PSG having progressed from novice in two years, while an easygoing rider collects four tickets and a pair win their first regional title by a whisker
WITH the poise of champions, Keystone Drummer Boy and
Luke Baber-Davies headed a star-studded prix st georges (PSG) with 71.93%. Luke’s “Dexter”, a nine-year-old by Dimaggio, has only been lightly competed. He was a novice horse at the beginning of 2015 and this PSG was only his seventh.
Judge Mary-Anne Horn, commented: “Luke’s horse stood out, combining gymnastic ability, consistency and balance. He didn’t over-push the power and used the short sides to show me very clearly that the horse was in self-carriage, soft, through and available.”
Luke hopes to compete his and breeder Tracy Cooper’s “dream horse” in UK internationals this year.
Alice Oppenheimer took second with another Britishbred nine-year-old by Dimaggio, Headmore Dirubinio. The final day of Alice’s busy show included 72.63% and 77.94% wins on Dirubinio in the advanced medium gold test and freestyle. The freestyle achieved an 8.5 degree-of-difficulty mark for a “deceptively simple but packed programme” from judge Debby Lush, which highlighted 17.3hh “Robin’s” stellar flying changes.
Alice had already scored a double at medium with 71.98% and 76.77% scores riding his full sibling, Headmore Davina. Alice commented: “I was particularly pleased with ‘Davina’s’ extended walk. She can walk for an eight but was getting sevens, so we’ve been practising. When the mark is doubled, then trebled with three judges, that really counts.”
Hannah Biggs’ Don Schufro x Welt Hit II 11-year-old, Don Caledonia, winner of the PSG freestyle in 2017, is making a comeback after injury. They managed a third in the PSG test, before going on to win the inter I on 71.36%. Commenting on her two classes, Hannah explained: “We had a disappointing 2017; ‘Archie’ stepped on a stone out hacking and bruised his sole.
That set us back a long time. We only managed two shows, so we’re a bit ring rusty.
“Work on piaffe and passage has helped strengthen his trot work. It felt fantastic. He has come into a much nicer frame this year and I was pleased with his overall maturity.”
COOL BURTWELL’S STRONG VERANO
JAMES BURTWELL’S ride Verano proved well up to the fitness challenge of four tests in two days, collecting four qualifications (see box, p44).
But James’ 75.38% elementary gold freestyle was beaten — just — by Josh Hill and Final Highlight who earned 3.5 more collectives.
Josh, who has been riding Jackie Gallois’ Fidertanz x Don Frederico seven-year-old for the past 18 months, said: “Although he’s qualified for nationals every time of asking, that was my first regional title on him. The floorplan is quite simple but in my opinion, my music is second to none. We always do it ourselves and it earned the extra collectives. We match it to the character of the horse. For ‘Finn’, it’s cheeky and upbeat, and judges love it.”
Josh has also worked hard on Finn’s training with David Rumsey. He explained: “For a long time we had to cut back the power in his trot, because he couldn’t maintain his balance with a long neck — he’d just shorten and come high.”
Devan Woodgate has also benefited from a thoughtful schooling plan for her 18hh Distaulgold, now 10. The pair headed a strong advanced medium silver class with 69.29%, a fraction ahead of Ellie Dempsey and Wembley Z.
Devan said: “Last year I took the pressure off ‘Bling’ and worked on his way of going. He’s big, built uphill and I was struggling
to maintain a consistent connection. The improvement has helped him become stronger and better balanced.”
Dannie Morgan, third on his eight-year-old Southern Cross Braemar, paid a heavy price for an over-reactive ‘Barry’ moment in the canter serpentine, but even with a similar one in the silver freestyle, they pulled off a comfortable win on 74.44%.
It was unfortunate for Christine Cockerton and Evaldo that they competed at advanced medium before their more secure medium level. It led to a bonus flying change in the silver medium, and the class was won by Patrick Troddyn and his “sporty model” Altogether Endeavour, with a best-yet 70.67%.
However, Christine and her Vivaldo x Obelisk nine-year-old ended their three-day stint with a victorious 74.94% medium freestyle that included a one- handed canter circle. Christine said: “The balance and the contact felt good, so I went for it!”
Nicola Byam-Cook continued her recent run of strong elementary performances, winning the freestyle on 74.42%. The elementary 59 honours, however, went to an exultant Joanne Price and Casino Scandal, who have been drilling hard at home on their canter-trot-canter transitions and simple changes. Their 74.68% score remained at the top of the leaderboard throughout a “never-ending” day.
Five-year-olds Headmore Figaro and Swanmore Wynter accounted for the novice gold and freestyle on scores of 72.59% and 77.22% under Dannie Morgan and Jezz Palmer respectively.
The novice silver title presents Frances Morrissey with a dilemma. Her Swarovski sevenyear-old HH Samba Spring has already qualified for the novice
Area Festival finals. As Frances has recently decided to freelance as a professional trainer and rider, she said: “I might just give the big boys’ class a crack.”
Sally Green’s Keystone Rhondeo x Dimaggio mare Keystone Rhia won the freestyle on 74.07%, riding to vintage musicals — and fully shod, thanks
to Merrist Wood staff and their last-minute ring round for an emergency farrier on Saturday.
The regional prelim title and ticket to Hartpury went to 10-year-old Daisy Mansfield, who produced a 71.83% performance on her new ride, the Beauchamp family’s Welsh section C Rayid Heart Breaker.