David Shoobridge and OO Seven Firm as Favourites Ahead of this Year’s Dressage Grand Final

David Shoobridge and his KWPN stallion OO Seven are firming as the combination to beat at this year’s Equestrian Grand Final for Dressage after their performance at the NSW State Dressage Championships at the weekend has placed them at the top of the leader board.

This is the second consecutive Grand Final qualifier that the duo has won and only the second they have contested. Their score of 72.575% in the weekend’s Gow Gates Grand Prix Freestyle is the highest of the series and puts them ahead of Heath Ryan and Regardez Moi which led the series for most of the series with their score of 71.275% from the Sydney CDI in May.

“To crack 70% is amazing... and we did that fairly significantly,” David said.  

“All I want to try and achieve is personal betterment and if that means we win some competitions, then that’s a bonus... but my focus is on improving,” he added.  “There are combinations here in Australia that have years and years of experience, riders who have trained multiple horses to GP very successfully... It's an exciting time but not one that I am taking for granted at all.  OO Seven and I will continue to work hard and see what's around the corner,” he added.

Following the conclusion of the five Dressage qualifying sessions which rank horse and rider combinations by their best Grand Prix Freestyle result, EA can confirm the 12 riders who have gained automatic qualification to the Equestrian Grand Final – Dressage are as follows:

David Shoobridge OO Seven

Heath Ryan Regardez Moi

Maree Tomkinson Diamantina IV

Tor Van Den Berge Fisherman’s Friend

Fiona McNaught Ostra

Caroline Wagner Tango V

Sheridyn Ashwood Prestige VDL

Nadia Coghlan Northern Campion

Megan Bryant Northern Xanthus III

Anjanette Harten UQG Alladin

Ann Slatford Silvery

Stephanie Spencer Rambo

EA will award a further three horse and rider combinations with a wild card entry which will take the startlist for this year’s Grand Final for Dressage to 15.

View the full 2012 leader board here

The Equestrian Grand Final will be held at EQUITANA Melbourne with the Dressage final to take place on Saturday 17 November.

Full results from this year’s NSW State Dressage Championships can be viewed here http://www.dressagensw.com.au

Story: Equestrian Australia  Photo: Franz Venhaus