Winner of CDI5 Grand Prix in Salzburg - photo: screenshot/clipmyhorse
Even though their competition record does not show any 5-star starts, it was actually their 2nd CDI5 Grand Prix, as the Olympics of course also is at 5-star level.
Most of the dressage world already knows about this very special 8 yr old mare by Millennium / Christ and her rider Sandra Sysojeva. Today they did not dissapoint. So much power, ease, expression and power in one gorgeous black coat. The judges were not fully in line for the clear victory as the placements was: 2 - 1 - 4 - 1 - 1, and scores from 71,7% from judge at C Thomas Lang til 77,3% from judge at B, Peter Storr. Looking into the detailed scores Peter Storr looked very much on point from H2R point of view. A lot of nines, but also 6,5 for halt with rein back, like also 6,0 and 6,5 for the walk tour and 2 x 5.0 for the two times and extended canter.
Today´s performance was also rewarded with 2 x 10 - the first piaffe and the first part of passage at final centerline.
With today´s Personal Best score of 74,913% there is still room for improvement. The halts were all with a bit of tensions, like the walk tour also need more relaxation, additionally with the two technical issues.
Such a pleasure to watch this combination and follow their already great development.
Sandra told after her test that her normally cool Maxima Bella wanted to look up and was clearly afraid of the people “walking above her head”.
Bit ubalance halt, power expression diagonal, go flow and uphill crossing half passes, not steady halt for rein back, super extension, nice back to big expressive passage, easy into super active of the ground piaffe, easy out, power passage, bit tense walk need more let go, bit unbalanced collected walk, super passage, super piaffe, super smooth transitions, good into canter, small error 2 times, good extended canter, good zigzag, good 1 times, good pirouettes, good into trot, power diagonal, super final centerline WOW! unbalanced halt.
Placed 2nd today the reunited combination Danish Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Marshall-Bell. Last weekend they were entering at Lövsta Top 10, but unfortunately Marshall got the tongue over the bid, and Daniel withdraw from the competition. Today they were back on track with a super solid performance, and where Daniel after his test also was very satisfied, with a small reflection over the zigzag and one times, where he didn´t manage to keep as focused and balanced as the rest of the performance.
Good halt, good balance for diagonal, active half passes missing bit more suppleness right, not square halt but nice rein back, good power diagonal, nice into passage, good passage, nice transitions, active well balanced piaffe at the spot, good passage, nice extended walk with good relaxation, bit tense collected walk, good into passage, nice into and out of 2nd piaffe, tiny bit forward, good angle, good into canter, good big 2 times full diagonal, good extended canter, good change, good zigzag dropping pole slightly, ok 1 times becomes bit short in the neck bit swinging, good balance and quality for both pirouettes, 2nd best, good diagonal, good into passage, nice final piaffe, easy out, good passage, super halt.
Touchdown and Kittel finish as no 3 today.
Bit unsteady halt, good diagonal well balanced, good half passes, unbalanced halt front nice rein back, nice power diagonal, good into passage, small unbalance hind by passage turn, good into nice piaffe, bit big out, nice passage, good extended walk, nice collected walk active balanced, good into passage, nice piaffe at the spot, bit big out, nice into canter, big 2 times, power extended canter, change hind into collection, nice zigzag, good 1 times, good pirouettes, best control 2nd, nice into trot, power diagonal, good final centerline bit big out of piaffe.
Link for full results.