Last month I noted that there were three Eventing sleepers stalking final selection for the Paris Eventing team from a below-the-horizon attack. I think a better way of describing them was perhaps three stalking leopards about to charge. Well, they did! Chris Burton, Kevin McNab and Andrew Hoy have turned the final leaderboard into turmoil in the eleventh hour.

Dressage selection is also full of intrigue and innuendos. Simone Pearce has incredibly ridden four Grand Prix horses to score well enough to be listed in the top 10 Australian horses in consideration for the Paris Olympics. That is unheard of. In my wisdom (God help us) I have not listed Fiderdance because I am fairly confident Simone no longer has the ride on this horse. I have listed Immerdale, however, again I am fairly confident that Simone is no longer riding that horse either. My goodness this is complicated. This whole column I have tried very hard to keep it 100% objective and avoided any subjective commentary. Clearly, I am losing my grip. So, whilst I am in this mood, let me say, I am worried that there is going to be even more unexpected implosions still to appear in the final lead up to the Australian Dressage team selection. This part of the Olympic journey can be so cruel and so painful. Hopefully I am just paranoid!

Anyway, the final qualifying period for both Eventing and Dressage finishes on 24 June 2024 – so, just three weeks of competition left. It’s nearly finished and we are so close now to the teams being named. To all of the Australian riders who have tried so hard in these final selection competitions, good luck.

EVENTING LEADERBOARD

Three leopards stalking have created havoc with the leaderboard where until now Shane Rose and Virgil had been the number one combination for over 12 months. Not anymore.

1. Chris Burton and Shadow Man are now the new number one ranked Australian rider with a score of 25.7 penalties from Millstreet CCIO-4*-NC-S (29 May-2 June 2024). Now this is a score that reeks of an individual Olympic medal. Just maybe a Gold Medal. In 2016 at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics had Chris Burton managed to go clear in the Show Jumping, he would have emerged as the individual Gold Medallist. As it was, he ended up fifth. Shadow Man has had some 28 FEI Eventing starts and on 22 of those occasions he has show jumped clear. Not all of those starts were with Chris in the saddle. Chris himself is a very good show jumper and is shortlisted for the Australian Show Jumping team as well as the Eventing team. That is some achievement. What happens if Chris fronts up at Paris with a horse that is very likely to show jump clear on the final day? That is exactly the sort of formula that could lead Australia back into a team gold medal. We did rule the world once in Eventing and we did feature individual Australians who would lead the team from the front with individual performances. This emergence of a striking leopard at the front of the team changes everything for Australia.

“It took over 12 months to
usurp Shane and Virgil
from the number one spot.”

2. Shane Rose and Virgil are now ranked number two. It took over 12 months to usurp Shane and Virgil from the number one spot. Shane has a score of 28.5 penalties from last year’s Adelaide CCI5*L (20 April 2023). Shane himself feels this is a very good score but he is worried it won’t quite challenge for an individual medal. It will however produce the most fantastic team back up score if Chris Burton can run the front lines down. A score of 28.5 penalties from Shane can definitely produce or be part of an Australian team Olympic Gold Medal. Melbourne International Three-Day Event (6 to 10 June), is running a CCN4*S for long listed combinations to give them a final run prior to selection, and Shane is set to start in this class with Virgil. This class is not a CCI event and therefore does not provide an MER, however the four combinations entered are already fully qualified and on the long list, and so it’ll be used to assist the selectors.

3. Andrew Barnett and Go Tosca. This partnership has a score of 29.3 penalties from Sydney CCI4*L (9 November 2023). This 29.3 penalties included 3.6 time penalties on the cross country from Sydney. For those of you astute Eventing watchers, you will know that last weekend (29 May-2 June 2024) at Millstreet CCIO4*-NC-S in Ireland, Andrew and Go Tosca were the first combination to go under time on the cross country. So breaking all the rules and being subjective, Andrew definitely could shave 3.6 penalties off his above 29.3 penalties that he achieved in Sydney. So, following this line of thought Andrew and Go Tosca definitely have the potential to achieve 25.7 penalties. Oh la la!!! That is the same score that Chris Burton just let drive with to take the number one spot in this leaderboard.

4. Kevin McNab and Scuderia 1918 A Best Friend also competed last weekend to score 30 penalties at Millstreet CCIO4*-NC-S in Ireland (29 May-2 June 2024). In 2021, Kevin was part of the Australian team to bring home a Team Silver Medal from the Tokyo Olympics. This is the second of the striking leopards.

5. Andrew Hoy and Vassily de Lassos have a score of 31 penalties from Marbach CCI4*L (9 May 2024). Andrew Hoy and Vassily de Lassos won the Individual Bronze Medal and the Team Silver Medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. This is the third of the striking leopards to throw the Australian Eventing leaderboard into chaos. This is a very mean and lean top five Australian riders. The only downside is there is quite a bit of age in both the horses and the riders. Kind of not so good for the future after Paris. Kind of very exciting nevertheless, for Australia at the Paris Olympics!

“This is individual
Olympic medal territory.”

6. Shenae Lowings and Bold Venture have a score of 31.8 penalties at the Adelaide CCI4*S competition (19-21 April 2024). In 2022, Shenae won the Melbourne International Three-Day Event CCI4*L on a score of 25.3 penalties. Once again, this is individual Olympic medal territory. The problem is Shenae and Bold Venture have not produced this form in the Paris selection period, which started on 1 January 2023 and is about to finish on 24 June 2024. There is no question however that this combination on its day has to be the most exciting young rider and exciting event horse combination in the world. Like Shane and Virgil, Shenae and Bold Venture are set to start in the special CCN4*S at Melbourne International Three-Day Event.

7. Andrew Cooper and Hey Arnold have a score of 32.9 penalties from Tamborine CCI4*S in Queensland (19 February 2023). Interestingly, Andrew is entered for the CCN4*S at Melbourne International Three-Day Event with another horse, Sharvalley Thunder.

8. Olivia Barton and Henrik APH have a best score of 33.3 penalties from Sydney International Three-Day Event CCI4*L (9-12 November 2023).

9. Sophia Hill and Humble Glory have 33.5 penalties from Werribee CCI4*S (2 February 2023).

10. Olivia Barton and Hollyander HG have a top score of 33.9 penalties from the CCI4*S at Land Rover Horse of the Year in New Zealand (9-10 March 2024). Olivia and Hollyander HG complete the field of four combinations in the CCN4*S class for long-listed riders at Melbourne International Three-Day Event.

Coming up next weekend is Melbourne International Three-Day Event, which is a CCI4*L. There are eight international four-star events around the world over the next three weeks in which it is possible to post a score which could challenge these top 10 Australian Eventing riders. Personally, I don’t think so. In my opinion, somewhere amongst these top 10 listed Australian riders will come the Australian Paris Olympic team.

DRESSAGE LEADERBOARD

1. Simone Pearce and Destano scored 73.217% in Motešice, Slovakia (4 November 2023). In the last 18 months Simone has produced four different Grand Prix horses who have scored 70% or over. Absolutely unbelievable.

=2. A) Lyndal Oatley and Elvive have a score of 72.413% at Lier CDI4* in Belgium (2 March 2024). Lyndal also has Dante’s Herzchen, who is ranked number 10 in these rankings. Dante’s Herzchen is not yet fully qualified however, it is very interesting that our top two riders have more than one horse in these rankings. UPDATE: On 4 June, Lyndal broke the news that Elvive has sadly been retired from the sport due to injury. In addition, Dante’s Herzchen will not be vying for Olympic selection. As Heath mentioned earlier in this article, there are often twists in the tale of Olympic selection, and our thoughts are with Lyndal and the team. We look forward to hopefully seeing Herzi vying for selection for Los Angeles 2028, as well as Elvive’s offspring flying the flag for Australia in the future.

=2. B)  Mary Hanna and Ivanhoe have a score of 72.413% from Boneo Park CDI-W, Australia (13 October 2023). If Mary Hanna makes the Olympic team this year, it will be her seventh Olympics. Holy smoke! That is truly amazing.

4. Jayden Brown and WillingaPark Quincy B have a new score of 71.652% from Hickstead CDI3* (9-12 May 2024). This moves Jayden up in front of Jess Dertell, who last month was number four. Jayden is definitely improving, and his scores are getting better and better.

5. Jessica Dertell and Cennin have a score of 71.587% at Boneo Park CDI-W, Australia (13 October 2023). At 19 years of age, Jess is quite remarkable to be operating at this fantastic level. We in Australia are certainly going to need some Dressage heroes in the next eight years to step up and come to terms with what it takes to challenge the best in the world of Dressage. The Brisbane Olympics are in eight years’ time. We would so dearly like to be a Dressage team medal challenger by 2032. Jess will still be young and more than a little bit more experienced by then. You would have to hope that this is the beginning of a new era for Australia.

6. David McKinnon and Forlan have a score of 70.804% from Boneo Park CDI-W, Australia (13 October 2023). David and Forlan are short of one Grand Prix Special start to comply with the Australian Paris selection criteria. An Olympic team is made up of three riders. Ranking in at number six is actually very, very serious, and historically there is no question that at times the number six ranked rider, due to unforeseen circumstances, is required to be part of the Olympic team. Historically the Australian selectors have managed to bend rules at the last moment in circumstances where Australia’s best interests are being challenged. I would certainly hope that the Australian selectors and the Australian High Performance would make this consideration if it were required.

=7. A) Jemma Heran and Saphira Royal 2 have a score of 70.717% in the CDI3* Grand Prix at the Palm Beach Dressage Derby in Florida, USA (2 March 2024).

=7. B) Simone Pearce and Immerdale have a score of 70.717% from Ornago, Italy (29 September 2023).

9. Simone Pearce and All We Need have a new score of 70.609% from the CDI3* at St Margarethen (30 May-2 June 2024). This has moved Simone and All We Need up one spot.

“This has moved Simone and
All We Need up one spot…”

10. Lyndal Oatley and Dante’s Herzchen have a score of 70.304% from Aachen CDI3* (30 March 2024). Lyndal and Dante’s Herzchen are short a CDI Grand Prix score and two Grand Prix Special starts to comply with Australian Paris Selection Criteria. UPDATE: As mentioned, Herzi will not be stepping up for Olympic contention for Paris. At just ten years of age, Lyndal wants to give the mare more time to develop before considering a major championship.

Bear in mind that the selection period for the Paris Olympics finishes on 24 June 2024. This is just three weeks away and between now and then there are 12 CDIs scattered across the Northern Hemisphere where qualifying scores can be posted. Coming up next weekend is Hagen CDI3* in Germany where there are four Australian riders entered: Jessica Dertell on Cennin, Mary Hanna on Ivanhoe, William Matthew on Mysterious Star and Lyndal Oatley on Dante’s Herzchen. There is also Wellington CDI3* in Great Britain. So theoretically things can change. Again, my opinion is that the above 10 ranked combinations are pretty much what we have in terms of Australian contenders for the Paris Olympics. This is the first time ever for Australia that the top ten riders and horses all have qualifying scores over 70%. That is truly amazing.

Hopefully the next column will announce just who has been picked on the Australian team for Eventing, for Dressage and for Show Jumping. The Paralympic team does not compete for another four weeks after the Olympics. So, I do not think we will necessarily have the Para Dressage team available for announcing in the next column.

The complication is that once a team has been announced, there is a couple of weeks in which protests can be lodged and heard in the court of appeal. At times this can be a very tricky business.

Anyway, this is all getting very exciting, and the Paris Olympics are almost upon us.

Cheers

Heath EQ

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE TO READ BY HEATH RYAN:

Sleepers Awake for Paris Selection – Equestrian Life, April 2024

High Drama in our Leaderboards – Equestrian Life, March 2024

Olympic Qualifications, Leaderboards… & A Mankini – Equestrian Life, March 2024

This Year is All About Paris – Equestrian Life, January/February 2024

Paris Peloton Moves Go Crazy – Equestrian Life, December 2023

Peloton Builds on Road to Paris – Equestrian Life, November 2023

Pressure Builds in Olympic Stakes – Equestrian Life, October 2023

Tracking Our Paris Contenders – Equestrian Life, September 2023

Let the Qualifying Games Begin – Equestrian Life, August 2023

Live Wire Sparks Coaching Debate – Equestrian Life, July 2023