Michael Pollard and Cyrano Dominate Dressage at Jersey Fresh CCI2*

Michael Pollard and Cyrano. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Michael Pollard and Cyrano nailed it this afternoon at the Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event, scoring 36.9 as the only combination to crack the 30s in the CCI2* to easily lead the 40-horse division at the conclusion of dressage. Every move these riders make has a chance to impact the Pan Ams picture at this point, and it’s definitely a good time to be delivering a personal best dressage score.

Michael and Cyrano did that today, besting their score from last month’s Ocala Horse Properties CCI2* by four points. The 14-year-old Zangersheide gelding owned by Carl Bouckaert is no stranger to championship scenarios, having represented the Belgian eventing team at the 2012 London Olympics. Now it’s up to Michael to bring it home in the next two phases with a ticket to Toronto on the line.

Jessica Phoenix and Patras VR sit five points back in second place on a score of 41.4 for Canada. This 14-year-old Trakehner gelding owned by Kirk Hoppner needs to qualify for the Pan Ams here at Jersey Fresh this weekend, so the next few days will be critical for this combination. Jessie is also sitting in 13th place in this division with her own Exultation, an 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding looking to compete his first CCI2* this weekend.

Jessica Phoenix and Patras VR. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Tamie Smith made a strong Pan Ams statement today, sitting in third and fifth places with Alex Ahearn’s Mai Baum and Team Milton Syndicate’s Fleur de Lis on scores of 41.5 and 42.8, respectively. She was one of the first out this morning with Mai Baum, a 9-year-old German Sporthorse gelding, and she said after the test that she thought the trot work could have been more through and expressive, but “the horse has been a dream to ride” and she was happy overall with the performance.

Fleur de Lis, a 10-year-old Dutch gelding, was one of the last horses to go in the division, and Tamie said she hoped his score would top his stablemate’s. They didn’t quite do that but still delivered a solid test. Is the fact that this is the final Pan Ams selection trial on her mind this weekend? “We all know it’s the final selection trial, but honestly I always want to win, so I put the same amount of pressure on myself at every horse show,” Tamie said.

Buck Davidson’s top two rides in this division are mashed together with Tamie’s on the leaderboard, with Carlevo LLC’s Carlevo sitting in fourth place on 42.6 and Lisa Darden’s Be Mine sitting in sixth place on 43.4. Both of these horses are very much on the Pan Ams radar and did exactly what they needed to do today. Carlevo, an 8-year-old Holsteiner gelding that came out of Dirk Schrade’s barn, is so supple laterally and creates a striking presence in the sandbox.

Buck Davidson and Be Mine. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Be Mine, a 9-year-old Rheinlander gelding, is not a fan of wind or flapping flags, and there was a gust of wind during his test that flapped the flags around the new VIP tent, causing the horse to scoot down the long side during that particular canter movement in his test. It was unfortunate timing but a marked improvement from how Be Mine handled that type of atmosphere at the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International.

Ryan Wood is the third rider enjoying two horses inside the top 10, with Sarah Hughes’ Alcatraz sitting in seventh on 44.3 and Summit Sporthorses’ Powell sitting in 10th on 47.4. Ryan’s barn is quite simply stacked with exciting up and coming horses right now, with Alcatraz, a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding, being a prime example. The horse finished third in the CIC2* at Red Hills and second in the CIC2* at Fair Hill last month in preparation for his first CCI2* here at Jersey Fresh.

Powell is another horse to be excited about, as the 9-year-old Oldenburg gelding bred right here in New Jersey by Ilona English hasn’t finished lower than fourth in his last four FEI starts. He was third in the CIC2* at Fair Hill last month, right behind stablemate Alcatraz, and is also contesting his first CCI2* this weekend.

Tamie Smith and Fleur De Lis. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Peter Barry is the second highest placed rider for Canada in the division, sitting in eighth place on a score of 44.7 after a lovely test with his own Long Island T. The 9-year-old Oldenburg/Thoroughbred gelding is attempting his first CCI2* this weekend, and Peter said “Ludwig” may be just outside Canada’s Pan Am’s picture since he’s green to the level. But considering his damsire is this horse named Heraldik xx you might have heard of, this surely won’t be the last we hear of him.

Phillip Dutton and Get Ready, owned by John and Kristie Norton and Ray Bond, are also enjoying a spot inside the top 10, scoring 47.3 to sit in ninth place in what was easily this horse’s best dressage test to date. The whole Norton and Bond crew whooped and hollered on the final salute, and Kristen said “Brooklyn,” a 9-year-old Dutch gelding, looks like an entirely different horse after being under Phillip’s tutelage while she’s adjusting to life as a new mom.

The CCI2* horses in Pan Ams contention set an incredibly high bar in the sandbox today, so it’s up to the CCI3* horses now to keep that level of energy and show they can deliver under pressure. The first part of the CCI3* division is about to get underway now and will wrap up tomorrow morning. Watch videos of the top CCI2* dressage tests courtesy of EN’s good friend Thehorsepesterer at this link.

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