(Originally posted on HorsesDaily)

In his first CDI competition and his first Prix St. Georges test of his career Cesar Parra and Grandioso saved the best for last as the final entry of the full day class at the International Horse Sport Champions Cup CDI*** performing and accurate and solid test earning a 71.579%. Holding the lead throughout most of the day with a 68.202, Tom Noone and Fred Astaire finished third after being edged out by Canadian Diane Creech and Robby W with a 68.86. In the only ride to beat the 70% mark under the judging of Cara Whitham, Marianne Cunningham and Natalie Lamping, Parra demonstrated his international experience and skill with the 10-year-old Westphalen gelding. Grandioso, the 17.2 dark bay gelding is by Grosso Z out of Popocateptal (by Palisandergrund) was bred in Germany by Willi Hillebrecht and purchased for Parra by Michael and Sarah Davis in 2009 from Jason Canton who won the 6-year-old Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championship in 2007. “It was just a fun thing to do today to come out and ride Grandioso. He felt comfortable and confident in his work in test.

We have been doing work in the Grand Prix but I want him to have a chance to mature a bit more and enjoy himself. I am blessed to have such a horse, great owners and a wonderful barn. When asked if he would continue in the PSG/I1 with his eye on the Pan American Trials, he laughed and said “We just plan to take it one day at a time for now, but I like to visit Mexico.”