New Zealand rider John Thompson takes out Grand Prix Special

The trip across the Tasman has paid dividends for New Zealand's John Thompson, who took out the Equestrian Australia Grand Prix Special at the 2016 Sydney CDI***.

John and the Anamour gelding, JHT Antonello, scored 67.902 per cent to pull just 0.2 per cent ahead of Thursday's Grand Prix winner, Sue Hearn of NSW on Remmington, who came in second with 67.627 per cent.

Sue was “thrilled” to claim the Prydes EasiFeed FEI Grand Prix (CDI3*) and said Remmington put in another good performance but felt a little tired in the Special.

“He's been here for a little while now and that test takes a lot out of them,” she said. “I made a mistake in the ones, not him. I adjusted my weight a little bit halfway through.

“But the rest of it was pretty good.”

Crowd favourite Brett Parbery was the popular winner of the Equine Podiatry and Lamness Centre FEI Intermediate I (CDI 3*), as well as the IRT Advanced 5.2 competition on Gregory Farrell's Furstin Friendship, saying it was “a great day all round”.

Brett enjoyed a warm up with Australian Olympian Lyndal Oatley on Thursday before she jetted off again to Europe.

“It was great to see her for a whole hour,” he said. “The warm up was super.”

The Sydney CDI*** is Australia's most prestigious international dressage competition, and offers not only spectacular competition but a very popular shopping village, tours and VIP dining experience in the Top Spot Marquee.

Competition continues tomorrow (Saturday) with the showcase event, the Equestrian NSW Grand Prix Freestyle.

Tickets for the event are available from the venue on the day. For more information, log onto www.sydneycdi.com.

ENDS

Sydney CDI*** winners

Day three (Friday, April 8)

Wagners FEI Intermediate B (CDN)

Shannan Goodwin riding Aristede, 67.460%

Saffron Stables Young Horse Championships R2 – 6-year-old horses

Gordon Pratt riding Bloomers Simply the Best, 79.20

Saffron Stables Young Horse Championships R2 – 6-year-old ponies

Robbie Soster riding Bamborough Jabiluka, 77.20

Equine Podiatry & Lameness Centre Intermediate I (CDI)

Brett Parbery riding Larenso, 70.789

Young Horse Consolation Novice 2.2

Courtney Larard riding F1 Sweetest Taboo, 71.357%

Young Horse Consolation Elementary 3.2

Lizzie Wilson-Fellows riding HB Rhodium, 68.750%

Young Horse Consolation Medium 4.2

Rachael Bell riding AEA Toronto, 65.000%

IRT Advanced 5.2

Brett Parbery riding Furstin Friendship, 72.095%

IRT Advanced 5.3

Deon Stokes riding Don Dancier, 71.184%

Equestrian Australia FEI Grand Prix Special (CDI3*)

John Thompson riding JHT Antonello, 67.902%

Agnes Banks Equine Clinic Young Rider FEI Individual Test CDI-Y

Mary Warren riding Mindarah Park Raphael, 68.070%

Mulawa FEI Under 25 Grand Prix CDI-U25

Katharine Farrell riding Luxor 118, 67.297%