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‘It’s been quite a journey’: Olympic rider aims for back-to-back titles as she lands personal best at Luhmühlen

Becky Murray Becky Murray

    • Germany’s Julia Krajewski holds the lead in the CCI4*-S Meßmer Trophy after the first day of Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage, as she aims for back-to-back titles.

    Julia and Tullabeg Platinum, owned by Michael Sperl, scored a personal best at this level of 27.2, to take an early lead this morning. The 50-strong class incorporates Germany’s national championship, won by Julia and her Paris Olympic ride Uelzener’s Nickel last year. 

    Julia said she was “very happy” with her test.

    “He basically showed everything he can do today. It’s very much about the little things with him like good halts and good changes. They’ve been a bit tricky because he’s not the biggest mover and doesn’t score super high in individual points – he really has to earn the marks through being consistent,” she said.

    “I think that’s what’s really positive about him, and about the test, that he really showed what he’s capable of and he didn’t have any blips or mistakes. I think that made it a very good test and I’m delighted the judges had the same opinion.”

    Julia has had the ride on the 12-year-old gelding for around a year and half and she stepped him up to four-star last year. The pair were runners-up at their two spring CCI4*-S events, Strzegom in April and Marbach in May.

    Julia said the pair have been working hard to improve their dressage marks.

    “He doesn’t have the most easy physique with dressage in mind, so it’s really a matter of getting him supple and then into self-carriage and collection, but still keeping him forward,” she said.

    “It’s very much step by step with him; developing good flying changes and what the judges want to see. We’ve been working a lot on that and every couple of weeks he gets a little bit better.

    “I’m very happy for him and his owners, it’s been quite a journey with him in dressage and it was a very good day today.”

    Julia Krajewski will ride Uelzener’s Nickel in the Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage tomorrow (19 June). This class is a key selection trial for the German team ahead of the World Championships and both of Julia’s rides feature in the A squad.

    Luhmühlen Horse Trials dressage CCI4*-S standings

    New Zealand’s Samantha Lissington and Delardo – owned by Rachel Bessell, Kate Maitland, the McGrigor family and Samantha – were the second combination down the centre line this morning and posted a pleasing 29.2, to hold provisional second. Samantha will ride her second horse, Lucas Stone, owned by Fiona Edwards, Neil Robertson, David Taylor, the Dubowskis and Samantha, tomorrow.

    The overnight top three is completed by US rider Cosby Green and her family’s Highly Suspicious, who were last to go. The pair scored 31.0.

    The five-star dressage begins at 1.30pm UK time (2.30pm); Jonelle Price and Grappa Nera will be first down the centre line. Emma Thomas and the Buzz Factor (1.38pm UK time/2.38pm local) and Stephen Heal and Hagonda (1.54pm UK time/2.54pm local) will be in action for the Brits.

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    Becky Murray
    Becky Murray

    H&H senior news writer
    Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.
    Becky Murray

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