Vamos powers to victory

Anabella Pidgley and Vamos Amigos take the grand prix while Iwan and Shareholder II rack up the wins

- OSCAR WILLIAMS

ANNABELLA PIDGLEY produced an elegant ride to win a stacked grand prix aboard Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour’s former World Championships medallist Vamos Amigos on 71.59%. The passage and piaffe work were highlights, with the pair looking more secure with each outing.

"He's such a gorgeous boy to ride," said Annabella.

"We've been working on the overall frame and also on strengthening our partnership." With Annabella having achieved so much at 19 years old it's tempting to predict for her a medal-laden future, but dressage is a marathon, not a sprint, and she's keen to take off the pressure: "I just want to keep enjoying riding and competing at this level and gain more experience." Tom Goode was second and fourth aboard his longtime partner Dior III and the 11-year-old mare Sakira.

But it was his ride in the inter II, the nine-year-old gelding Furstenrausch PS (Furstenball x Festrausch) who scored plus-70% to take the win, that caught the eye.

“We had no mistakes and he’s feeling more confident at the level now,” said Tom, who rides for Emile Faurie. “He has a real talent for the collected work and is starting to come into his own with the grand prix movements.

“I’ve ridden him since he was five. He came to us to be sold but we wanted to find an owner so I could keep the ride.

 Thankfully, Richard Jackson was looking to buy something for me to compete at the time and he fell in love with him, which is lucky for me.