Man of the moment, Spencer Wilton, held his command at small tour on day two of the Espayo National Dressage Championships. Today, he took the intermediate I title on Doogie, the horse relegated to bridesmaid by superstar stable mate Goodman’s Supernova in yesterday’s epic prix st georges. Spencer rode a masterly test on the 10-year-old KWPN Democrat-sired gelding to score 74.21% and earn the attractive grey his deserved moment in the limelight.
“It sounds awful, but I was gutted for Doogie yesterday so I’m glad he’s had his moment to shine,” said Spencer. “This has been the best ever show. It means a lot to me. Everyone puts in so much work, effort and money so it’s great to get a result like this. I’m so glad for his owners, Mary Baker and Carol Large.”
“Doogie’s always been a good horse but until this year, he didn’t have an awful lot of fire. This year, he’s come into his own and is now really high quality,” said Spencer. “Personality-wise he’s very different to Supernova. Doogie’s fairly independent and unflappable whereas Supernova’s quite needy - the complete opposite.”
Spencer and Doogie go forward to tomorrow afternoon’s Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Freestyle which, if the inter I is anything to go by, promises to be a stonker! And it determines the winner of the Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Supreme Champion.
On form Daisy Coakley maintained her 100% strike rate today at the Espayo National Dressage Championships. The 20-year-old Hertfordshire rider and her mount, Cleopatra II, once again stamped their authority to notch up a second title at the show, the Dodson & Horrell Novice Open. Judy Firmston-Williams’ six-year-old daughter of Dayano, was still full of running following yesterday’s victory and powered through her test for a score 71.86% from the panel of judges.
“I’m gobsmacked today,” smiled Daisy after the prize giving, “She felt really fluent and had plenty of energy in there. The test wasn’t perfect as there was a mistake in one of the canter transitions, but the rest of it felt great - and she walks for a nine.”
Judy found Cleopatra in Hampshire as a foal and Daisy has ridden the mare since February last year. During this short time together they’ve become a forced to be reckoned with, now with four national titles under their belt. Daisy clearly enjoys working with the horse “She has a very good mind and expresses herself well,” she said. “She can be a bit grumpy in training, but then she thinks about it for a couple of days, and then gets it.”
Daisy, who trains with Judy, Ali Berman and Gareth Hughes, left school in 2012 and now rides full time, combining a successful eventing career with the dressage “I rode throughout my years at school years though – what else are lunchtimes for!” she laughed.
26-year-old Elenna Carroll stole the show in the Dodson & Horrell Novice Restricted Championship riding Gemma Appleton’s six-year-old 17.2hh gelding Moviman. Elenna and the stately chestnut, a son of former Carl Hester ride Movistar, headed the class with 72.41% to sit more than three percent ahead of their nearest rivals.
“It’s been a long journey with him. He was very sharp and difficult - just a couple of years ago he wouldn’t even let his hind feet be picked out. It’s been a real turnaround,” said Elenna. “Today his attitude was great. He was focused and not at all distracted. This time last year it would have been too much for him. I’m so happy.”
Elenna, who was born in Australia to British parents, is Gemma Appleton’s riding head girl, riding and competing the youngsters. “I originally came to Europe on holiday and as the industry over here is bigger, there are more opportunities, so I came back. Being at Gemma’s is great and she has such amazing horses.”
The Dressage Deluxe Medium Restricted Championship field left the judges in disagreement with some differences of opinion but Oxfordshire rider Helen Philip came out top with her own Rubens. Drawn halfway in the running order, Helen put up a score of 68.49% and so the agonising wait began with some good combinations to come but it was towards the end that the real challenges came. Hannah Bates and Essentially M&S came close with 67.62% and then the final combination, Kate Walters and Freddy looked like snatching it but their final mark of 67.62% was just adrift of Helen and ‘Ruben’.
Despite winning their regional at Addington, Helen felt there was lots to work on before coming to their first Nationals as she was disappointed with her canter work. “I’m pleased with the canter today. The regional it was the other way round but this felt better. The test went to plan with the half pass and simple changes excellent. I know there’s still more to come from him and we only move on up from here.”
Helen found the now 11 year old in a show jumping yard as a just backed four year old and took a shine to him. His breeding is classically dressage on the side of the sire, Riccione and his dam is show jumping but when it was found that ‘he couldn’t jump a stick’ he was put up for sale. “He wasn’t the easiest youngster – stress and spooky – but he’s matured into the easiest horse. He goes out in the field every day and we do lots of hacking. I really believe that I’ve found the key to him in the supplement Cool, Calm and Collected plus having my friend Wesely Morrissey helping me at shows; she’s a rock. She knows my moods, when I need something and when to keep quiet! We’ll keep on working hard to perfect both the trot and canter and the aim is to qualify him at advanced medium for the winter regionals,” explained Helen.
For results and winning rider interviews - click here.
For pdf full score sheets - click here