By Sally Reid
Photography: Annie Studholme
After recovering from a nasty virus, the NZ Hanoverian gelding, Don Amour MH (Don Frederico - Adelheid MH x Anamour) became the Australian dressage champion at the Sydney CDI-W, setting a new Australian record (76.16) as well as claiming the Pacific League title.
Don Amour is owned and ridden by environmental engineer, Wendi Williamson of Kumeu, near Auckland
‘Donny’ returned to New Zealand following that victory, and Williamson had no plans to contest the Pacific League Final in Boneo, Melbourne, for which she had qualified. However, a late change of mind saw the pair heading back across the Tasman. Their arrival, thanks to flight delays, was a day behind schedule, but the horse was seemingly untroubled by any lost preparation time. He and Williamson were second in the Grand Prix, then produced a wonderful performance in the Freestyle, to win the solitary Pacific League invitation to the 2020 World Cup Final in Las Vegas.
It’s the second time that Williamson has qualified for the final, and all of New Zealand will be hoping that, if she goes, she will have much better luck than she had in Las Vegas in 2017. She was there as the country’s first-ever finalist, riding Don Amour MH’s half-brother, Dejavu MH (De Niro - Adelheid MH x Anamour). ‘DJ’ bit his lip during the GP, and the resulting blood in his mouth meant automatic elimination, but far greater heartbreak was in store the following year, when colic claimed the life of this wonderful horse...To read the complete article you need to be a subscriberCLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO BREEDING NEWS
SUBSCRIBERS CAN READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE BY LOGGING IN AND RETURNING TO THIS PAGE
