Rachael Sanna and Jaybee Alabaster thrilled the audience with their winning Grand Prix Freestyle performance at the Sydney CDI3* to claim victory on a score of 74.250%.

Thirteen of Australia’s best Grand Prix Dressage combinations, plus two riders from New Zealand, contested the Hamilton Island Grand Prix Freestyle in front of a capacity crowd in the indoor arena at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre, Horsley Park. 

The class was the second of five Dressage qualifiers for the 2011 Equestrian Grand Final, to be held 10-13 November in conjunction with EQUITANA Sydney at Sydney Showground.

The international judging panel of Mariette Withages (BEL), Ricky MacMillan (AUS), Dieter Schüle (GER), Charlotte Bredahl (USA) and Mary Seefried (AUS) were presented with quality performances, including two combinations (Brett Parbery riding Victory Salute and Rachael Sanna on Jaybee Alabaster) who represented Australia at last year’s World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, USA.

The victory was well deserved as Sanna and 12-year-old Jaybee Alabaster out performed Australia’s most decorated Dressage combination Brett Parbery and Victory Salute. Faults in the one-time changes plagued Parbery and Victory Salute in each test at this competition and with tonights stiff competition the errors were enough to relegate him to second place.

The win for Sanna was especially creditable as she was riding with a significant back injury. Sanna is suffering a bulged disc but was determined to compete. Finishing in third place was Olympian Mary Hanna and her 10-year-old gelding Umbro.

The Sydney CDI was an opportunity for riders to achieve half of their qualification for the London Olympic Games. Whilst not an official selection event, the Sydney CDI3* is a premier event on the Australia Dressage calendar and one at which riders want to create a favourable impression on the National selectors.

Earlier in the evening the glamorous combination of Maree Tomkinson (Vic) and her extravagant mare Diamantina 4 won the Zilco Intermediate Freestyle on 70.80% ahead of Rozzie Ryan and GV Bullwinkle (67.750%) and Rebecca Walshe on Xl Overtime (66.4000%).


Equestrian Australia