LONGINES CCI5*-L: Laura Collett’s unicorn dances into the lead
Laura Collett (GBR) and her 13-year-old mare Hester produced a superb dressage test to take the lead on the first dressage day of the Longines CCI5*-L (30.6). She only has a 0.2 penalty advantage over Tom McEwen and CHF Cooliser. The pair scored 30.8 points and are currently in second place, closely followed by Lara de Liederkerke-Meier (BEL) with Hooney d’Arville (31.6)
The Olympic Gold medallist was absolutely delighted with her horse: “She’s just getting better and better. I think she’s really starting to trust me and realise it’s not the end of the world when she goes into the dressage arena. Each time she goes in and doesn’t lose her mind it’s a step in the right direction. I’ve had her for nearly three years and it’s been a process of figuring out her brain. She can do all of the moves, apart from the changes, when she’s relaxed. She only makes mistakes from wanting to do it right. Her trotwork is stunning, the next step is to get the canter just as secure. I’m absolutely over the moon with her.”
Laura Collett is now looking forward to tackling Mike Etherington-Smith’s cross-country course on Saturday: “The track should suit her, it’s great. It’s a five-star course and she’s not a proven five-star horse yet but hopefully, at the end of the weekend, we can say that she is. The first water is serious, it comes very much up in your face. But I think they’ve been very kind in that there’s a get-out-of-jail card. If things go wrong in the first part, you can take a long route. There are questions all the way round, so you’ve got to be on your game.”
Fellow British rider Tom McEwen was also very pleased with his mare’s performance: “I’m absolutely delighted with our test. She was brilliant, listening to me all throughout the test. It was rhythmical and smooth, probably one of the best tests she’s ever done. I’m really looking forward to Saturday. It’s a proper five star: lots of width on the tables, lots of skinnies and a great use of the ground. There’s plenty to do throughout the course so you have to make sure you’ll find a good rhythm.”
Anna Lena Schaaf currently tops the CCI4*-S Meßmer Trophy leaderboard
With a mark of 26.0, Anna Lena Schaaf (GER) and Fairytale 39 are at the top of the leaderboard today (Thursday), closely followed by Michael Jung (GER) with Kilcandra Ocean Power (27.1) and Tim Price (NZL) with Coup de Coeur Dudevin (28.1)
After her test, Anna Lena Schaaf was full of praise for her mare: “I could have asked for a little bit more, to get her in front of the leg – so we lost a few points, especially in the walk and I could have risked a little bit more in the canter phase, but overall I’m very happy with our test. She’s seventeen now, so we know each other inside out. She taught me everything I know and she’s always really focused. This might be our last season, as she’s already seventeen, so I want to enjoy every minute. She’s a family horse and she will stay with us for the rest of her life.”
Michael Jung was very pleased with Kilcandra’s dressage performance: “It’s a great start into the competition. We’ve already improved a lot of details, such as the flying changes and the halts on the center line. Obviously, we have to keep improving and there here’s still some work ahead of us but I’m really happy with our test.”
New Zealander Tim Price has slotted into third place: “I’m happy enough with our test. He’s not the best dressage horse but he’s a very strong cross-country horse – so I’m happy with our result today and looking forward to Saturday.
ARTICLE IMAGES: © TGL/Annette Dölger
FEATURED IMAGE: © Eventing Times
