Sydney International Equestrian Centre, Horsley Park: Olympian Shane Rose is hoping his performance in the Sydney International CCI3* will lead to an Australian team berth for the upcoming World Equestrian Games to be held in August in Normandy, France.

Rose clinched his second Sydney CCI3* title on Sunday aboard the appropriately named Qualified which is emerging as a serious horse for the future for the 41 year old Beijing silver medallist.

Rose’s second horse Taurus placed third but knocked four rails in the show jumping phase which was not the result that Rose had been hoping for.

“I’m a little disappointed I knocked a couple of poles on Taurus.

“Obviously he has a little bit of work to do with his show jumping but both horses need work in their show jumping. Qualified is certainly improving every time he goes out so I think he will improve from this run”.

“I’m very lucky to have a horse as good as Qualified. He just keeps getting better and better and I’m excited for him and his future.” 

After missing the London Olympic Games due to an injury to Taurus, Rose is firmly focused on adding a World Equestrian Games medal to his Olympic silver medal from Beijing.

“Hopefully there is the chance for one of these guys to make it on the team for Normandy and I’m sure it’s going to be a great Australian team. Hopefully we can bring home a medal of some sort, hopefully a few gold ones”.

“This Sydney course is probably the toughest terrain to ride on and I have ridden all over the world”.

“I would say that the going here on good weather and the terrain is actually the toughest in the world and I’m really happy with the way Qualified has pulled up from that.”

Rose and Qualified’s final score of 53.40 was well clear of second placed Jessica Manson and Legal Star who finished on a score of 68.20. The result was 21 year old Manson’s best ever placing at this level. 

With Megan Jones withdrawing her horse Flowervale Maserati prior to the show jumping phase, there was an opportunity for Rose to clinch both first and second position but 16 show
jumping penalties proved costly to Taurus and his score increased to 68.80.  

“I’m not going to lie, I felt the nerves a little bit more than usual this morning but once I walked the course and warmed up I felt a lot better,” Manson said.

Fellow Western Australian, Olympian Sonja Johnson was the only rider to produce a clear show jumping round on the final day of competition but an uncharacteristic refusal on cross country day meant that Johnson’s two horses were left out of the placings and finished fourth and 10th overall.

“I made the same stupid mistake at a fence on both horses on cross country. You know you do it once and you’re sort of pretty cross with yourself.

‘I’m going to be berating myself the whole way across the Nullarbor which is a long way to do it I must say.”

The Sydney CCI3* was 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. Australian riders will have a second opportunity to post a good score at the Melbourne International Horse Trials while overseas riders will head to the prestigious Badminton Horse Trials to stake their claim on a team position.

Photo Above: Shane Rose on CP Qujalified
Photo: Julie Wilson
Story Equestrian Australia.