Derby House Saddlery & Dressage Horse International Prix St Georges.
In the Prix St Georges it was very close at the top but Emilie Faurie squeezed ahead of Carl Hester and Celestial King on 69.45%, and Henriette Andersen and Astonish on 69.35%, to take the class with a score of 69.85% on Fididas. Emile also came fifth on Livello - both horses are owned by Lady Bamford. Fididas is a ten-year-old gelding by the German stallion Fabriano out of Marena and Emilie was pleased with his performance as the pair are off to Oldenberg next.
"He went beautfully" said Emile, "He was terribly concentrated and he did everything I asked. He changed ahead of me in the four times and he just needs a bit more ring confidence. Today for the first time he felt really confident in the arena." Emile hopes to take Fididas on the Big Tour next year.
British dressage riders were out in force at the weekend. At the CDI Dortmund, Germany (12-14 March), Emile Faurie was third in the prix st georges with Lady Bamford's Fididas scoring 68.42%.
Standards at the Anglo European Studbook grading were applied even more strictly this year, and of 33 new stallions presented, 12 failed - the first time this judgement has been made. Previously, the lowest category has been "registered", which does not allow use at public stud.
There was also a fresh look to the judging panel. Regular assesors Geoff Glazzard and Vicky Thompson were joined by long-time breeder Charlie Edwards, producer Adrian Marsh and highly-respected Dutch stallion owners Kees van de Oetelaar and Henk Nijhof.
It was a great pity that public attendance was low, as this show offers unique opportunity for breeders to watch and compare stallions, many with top-level form and international potential. Grading was carried out on both days, with the stallions alo on display in various jumping classes, which showed their competition potential.
On the first day, the only candidate approved was the Bamford's home-bred four-year-old dressage prospect, Wild at Heart, by Welt Hit II out of the late Herbert Rehbein's good broodmare, Estepa (simply Palermo). This lovely stamp contested young horse qualifiers this term with Alice Bamford, scoring 82% and finishing sixth in the Prevac Pro final.
Akzento, a horse bred in the comparatively unknown region of Brandenburg, in the former East Germany is the third stallion to reach approved status. This is contrary to the recent report from the AES stallion grading (sport horse, 28 October). Akzento gained more than 100 wins and placings up to grand prix level in his native country and is also a licensed and 100-day tested stallion.
He will stand at his owner Lady Bamford's Daylesford Stud, Glos, and will be ridden in competition by her daughter, Alice.
Akzento will join some exciting home-bred prospects at the stud, amoung them a dark brown two-year-old Oldenburg colt by Welt Hit II, who will shortly travel to Germany for his 100-day testing.
A £200 prize-fund donated by Charles Britton Equestrian Construction attracted 24 prix st georges entries at Hunters Equestrian, where, despite wet conditions, 18 came forward.
The class belonged to Alice Bamford and Fididas, who ran out the winners by a comfortable margin over Dutch rider Xaviera van Tintelen on Francoli.
Alice, who lives in London and regularly commutes to trainer Emile Faurie, has owned the German-bred 10-year-old for five years. "Winning certainly makes up for the pouring rain," said Alice. "I'll be concentrating on small tour with him this summer and we'll make the leap into intermediate I."
Wild at Heart, ridden by Emile Faurie was a winner of one of the selection trials for five-year-olds at Soley. The attractive black stallion was bred by owner Lady Bamford and is by the grand prix performer Welt Hit II.
Judge Maribel Quinzanos from Mexico said: "As well as suppleness and good basic gaits, the stallion has a good mind and is willing to co-operate. I think he is absolutely a dressage horse and the right type for the world breeding classes."