Krajewski, 27, whose parents run a small stud farm near Luhmühlen, has yet to complete a CCI4*, but the German combination recently won the CIC3* at Renswoude (GER).
Despontin and Waldano, a horse previously ridden by Andreas Ostholt (GER), now have a long-standing partnership and regularly shine in the Dressage arena, finishing 20th at Luhmühlen last year. The 26 year old explained:
“He’s a great horse with a big personality. He was a little tense at first so I had to ride the canter work cautiously, but his walk and trot were much improved from last year.”
Australia’s Emma Dougall is in third place on 40.6 penalties with CCI4* first-timer Belcam Bear, ahead of the seasoned German Olympian Andreas Dibowski on It’s Me XX.
Tim Price’s Ringwood Sky Boy, one of the most experienced horses in the field, missed Badminton but is now in with a great chance of a high placing at Luhmühlen. The New Zealand combination are in fifth place on 44.6, just 0.3 ahead of the talented Frenchman Maxime Livio with Qalao des Mers.
Riders have been giving their views on Captain Mark Phillips’ Cross Country course and the general opinion seems to be that it’s a fair track but stronger and with more demanding lines than last year. Despontin said:
“The jumps have been beautifully built and the ground is exceptional. If Waldano and I get round and past the Meßmer water complex, we should be able to finish on a decent score.”
Twenty-eight combinations are set to start tomorrow’s Cross Country – Germany’s Bettina Hoy (Seigneur Medicott) and France’s Geoffroy Soullez (Madiran du Liot) withdrew before Dressage. First out on the course at 14.00 local time is Britain’s Louise Harwood on Mr Potts.
Follow the competition with live coverage on FEI TV (www.feitv.org) and live results on www.luhmuehlen.de.
Results after Dressage
1 Julia Krajewski/Samourai du Thot (GER) 39.0
2 Julien Despontin/Waldano 36 (BEL) 40.2
3 Emma Dougall/Belcam Bear (AUS) 40.6
4 Andreas Dibowski/It’s Me XX (GER) 43.4
5 Tim Price/Ringwood Sky Boy (NZL) 44.6
6 Maxime Livio/Qalao des Mers (FRA) 44.9
7 Bill Levett/Improvise (AUS) 45.5
8 Claas Hermann Romeiki/Cato 60 (GER) 46.0
9 Andrew Nicholson/Qwanza (NZL) 46.3
10 Sarah Bullimore/Reve du Rouet (GBR) 46.9
