Setting the stage, day one wrap at the 2025 Sydney CDI

Photo: Brett Parbery and Velvit winner of the Kohnke Own CDI1* Prix St Geroges with Judge Mary Seefried.

CDI Sydney Thursday 1 May 2025 - Summary

Under crisp and sunny autumn skies the Sydney CDI welcomed Australian and New Zealand riders to this premiere annual dressage extravaganza. With more than 17 international and Australian FEI judges invited to judge at this event, dressage enthusiasts revelled in the CDI 3* Grand Prix and CDI 1* Prix St George competitions.  New Zealand rider Wendi Williamson convincingly won the CDI 3* Grand Prix with 67.109% on her athletic 12-year-old New Zealand-bred Don Frederico chestnut gelding, Don Vito MH.  Wendi was closely followed by the second-placed Australian-based New Zealand rider, John Thompson with 66.739% with the electric Dutch-bred 9-year-old black gelding, MSJ Gatsby. Rounding out the top 3 placings was the uber-talented Australian rider, Robbie McKinnon, with 65.043% riding D’Esperanza, a 13-year old German-bred bay mare by Desperados.

The hotly-contested CDI 1* Prix St George competition was won by the internationally renowned Australian rider, Brett Parbery with 70.088% riding Vellvit, a 10-year old German-bred mare by Vivaldi. Second place was captured by the highly successful Australian rider, Matthew Dowsley with 69.176% on TS Firestorm, an imposing 10-year-old Australian-bred bay gelding by Foundation. In third place was well-known Australian rider Alexis Hellyer with 68.323% on Fidibus, the 9-year-old German-bred bay stallion by Floriscount.

The international visiting FEI judges commented very positively on the quality of the horses competing in the small and big tour tests, with harmonious presentations, and promising more marks to come with further focus on prioritising fluency and ease. They encouraged riders to continue to seek correctness and balance in the movements, with the potential for even higher scores when riders find the ideal balance between harmony ad power.

It is no wonder that riders, spectators, and officials love to return year after year to this iconic event on the Australian dressage calendar.  The Sydney CDI always promises warm hospitality, superb organisation, with several days of exciting and inspiring competition for the equestrian enthusiast.