Lucinda Takes the Lead at Luhmuehlen.....
Friday, June 13, 2008
Australia's Lucinda Fredericks is well on her way to earning some valuable points in the new HSBC FEI Classics™ series after her sparkling performance with the brilliant little mare Headly Britannia put her out in front after the dressage phase of the 4-Star competition at Luhmuehlen this afternoon.
"Brit" as the mare is affectionately known is now 15 years of age but has lost none of her "look what I can do!" quality, and the leading partnership left a star-studded field of runners in their wake. "She deserved the marks she got" Lucinda said after topping the scoreboard in the opening phase. "Brit doesn't do her best work in the practice arena but she knows when it’s the big-time!" the rider added.
Lying second at this early stage is 27 year old German rider Simone Deitermann with another 15 year old horse, the gelding Flambeau. On a score of 35.40 they are just over two points behind the leaders while Australian star Andrew Hoy holds third spot with Moonfleet another four points adrift.
British riders featured strongly in the earlier part of the day but the afternoon session saw Hoy move out in front before Deitermann squeezed ahead only to be overtaken by Fredericks who was fourth-last of the 24 starters.
Lucinda has ridden dressage at Grand Prix level so her skills in this phase of the three-day-event are pretty exceptional and she knows that gives her a good advantage. However as she pointed out, Headly Britannia is not the most extravagant mover - "her natural paces are not very exciting" she said. But when it comes to competition time the little mare lights up - "and she loves the "tricks" involved in the 4-Star test, like the flying changes and the half-passes and particularly the extensions - she got good marks in all of these today because she thought it was great fun!" Lucinda explained.
"With her there is a huge difference between collected and medium and extended trot so the judges really notice that. She's difficult to prepare though, because she gets bored in practice so you have to keep her amused by doing playful things. I'm extra proud of her right now because over the last few weeks we just had two foals from her by embryo transfer - both by Jaguar Mail - we are very excited about that" the rider added.
A heavy shower during the lunch-break today came as a huge relief because the ground conditions have been causing some concern and Lucinda said she would be watching developments ahead of tomorrow's cross-country phase.
However Ground Jury member Christian Landolt (SUI) said this evening that he was confident the going would be fine as riders head out to tackle Capt Mark Philips' 32-fence cross-country challenge. "The organisers here at Luhmuehlen are aware that the ground has been hard, but last year we rotovated it early in the week at the riders request and it went the other way so it was decided to wait until today to work on the course. Some of it still has to be done but 90% of it has now received attention and it is much better. If riders gallop on the track it will be fine" he said.
"The course is technical - not huge - but there are plenty of big ditches out there!" Lucinda commented while second-placed Simone Deitermann described it as "fair, but big". Simone, who is based near Warendorf, was reserve rider on the German team for the Athens Olympic Games in 2004 and finished third in the World Cup and sixth in Boekolo in 2004 with Flambeau who she has been riding since he was a four year old. "I think the time will be difficult to get" she said, "but I will be concentrating on getting no penalties".
Earlier in the week Mark Philips talked about the Luhmuehlen course which has seen some changes over the last few years. How strong is the challenge out there? he was asked. "If you ask me is it Badminton, the answer is no - ask me is it Burghley, the answer is no - ask me is it a 3-Star the answer is no. This is not a world championship track but it is definitely a 4-Star. Pau and Luhmuehlen are quite alike in the challenge they present and I would describe them both as "move up" 4-Star courses" he pointed out. The track runs through some forestry but most of the fences are in open areas with a concentration of jumping activity in the "arena" area where horses and riders face seven jumping efforts quite close together. "There is an intensive minute in there from fences 20 to 26" the course designer explained. The water complex at fence 27 also promises some excitement with a 1.80m drop in followed by four strides to an island with an arrowhead on top, a drop back into water and then three more strides to a house.
It’s difficult to imagine that this will create any problems for Lucinda and Headley Britannia who stormed around Burghley to claim that coveted title in the finest style in 2006 but the rider knows that luck also plays a big part in this most testing of sports. "I wouldn't be here this weekend if my mare hadn't been given medication that gave her a skin infection and stopped her from competing at Tattersalls in Ireland two weeks ago" she pointed out.
And her compatriot Andrew Hoy knows all about luck too. In Badminton with Moonfleet he seemed ready to cruise to success only to find himself in a heap at the formidable Huntsmans Close. He will be hoping to leave that experience far behind him this time out....
Lucinda has the Olympic Games in Hong Kong in her sights, and this weekend's result is an important step along the way. "She has done three advanced CIC's and she has been very good" she said, hoping that her luck stays firmly in place.
Luhmuehlen is the third leg of the HSBC FEI Classics™ series that also includes the 4-Star fixtures in Kentucky, Badminton, Burghley and Pau and which offers a prize-fund of US$1million over the next three years.
RESULT AFTER DRESSAGE
- 1, Headly Britannia (Lucinda Fredericks) AUS 32.60
- 2 Flambeau H3 (Simone Deitermann) GER 35.40
- 3, Moonfleet (Andrew Hoy) AUS 39.30
- 4, SS Jett (Karin Donckers) BEL 41.80
- 5, Sir Roselier (Julie Tew) GBR 45.00
- 6, Comanche (James Robinson) GBR 45.20
- 7, Adm. v. Schneider (Dirk Schrade) GER 45.90
- 8, Expo du Moulin (Arnaud Boiteau) FRA 46.50
- 9, Macchiato (William Fox-Pitt) GBR 47.40
- 10, Little Paint (Frank Ostholt) GER 47.80
- 11=, Vettori (Stuart Tinney) AUS, Ismene du Temple (Didier Dhennin) FRA 48.20
- 13, Look Out (Julie Tew) GBR 50.90
- 14, Smart Approach (Fiona Hobby) GBR 53.10
- 15, Chill Out Bob (Jeanette Brakewell) GBR 55.90
- 16, Karascada (Kai-Steffen Meier) GER 58.70
- 17, Balmoral Cavalier (Emily Anker) AUS 59.10
- 18, Jakata (Julia Crowson) GBR 63.70
- 19, Kincluny (Sarah Wardell) IRL 64.80
- 20, I've Been Dun (Sacha Pemble) IRL 65.40
- 21, The Nightflight (Alberto Giugni) ITA 68.50
- 22, Howecote Psammite (Julie Lawson) GBR 70.40
- 23, Catherston Defender (Alberto Giugni) ITA 71.70
- 24, Axia (Luisa Palli) ITA 83.50
