Jones narrowly leading Rose after Sydney CCI3* Dressage

Megan Jones and Flowevale Maserati (photo: Julie Wilson/EA)

By: Michelle Cook/EA

There’s less than one penalty point separating the top two placed combinations in the Sydney CCI3* which commenced today at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre. 

Olympic silver medallist Megan Jones leads the field after the dressage phase and has a 0.6 penalty advantage over fellow Olympian Shane Rose.

Pairing with the 13 year old gelding Flowervale Maserati, Jones finished the dressage phase on a score of 41, which handed her a marginal lead ahead over Rose, who is competing with his grey gelding CP Qualified and scored 41.60.

The team mates from Beijing are joined in the top three by Western Australia’s Sonja Johnson who was also a member of Australia’s silver medal winning three day event team from 2008. Johnson and her thoroughbred chestnut Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison are sitting on a score of 45.

South Australian native Jones has been training hard for the event and wasn’t surprised by her score.

“We’ve been working really hard this year, travelling to lots of competitions, we’ve been doing this (dressage) test over and over again, making sure to get the warm-up right and we got it right to day which I’m really happy about.

“He was a good boy and it’s great to be on top after the first day,” Jones said.  

With very little separating the top order Jones knows there’s no room for error but the 37 year old is optimistic about retaining top position.  

“If I ride it right there’s no reason why we can’t be in this position on Sunday.

“It’s a very strong (cross country) course. I walk it and I really want to go out there and do it with him. I trust him a lot, we haven’t been competing that long together but I trust him.”

The Sydney CCI3* is an important event for Australian based event riders vying for a position on the Australian team that will compete at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France in August. 

Competition continues tomorrow with cross country and concludes on Sunday with the deciding show jumping phase.

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