David Dobson and Pico Bello are congratulated by Mark Jones of the Commonwealth Bank, sponsors of the Perth World Cup Qualifier Photograph:Nicol Taylor

David Dobson riding the imported stallion Pico Bello finished on a double clear round. Pico Bello, a 17.1hh bay stallion by Calvados, has competed successfully in Europe and New Zealand and continued his World Cup form with two accurate and free flowing rounds. While the stallion seemed to be making hard work of earlier rounds at the show, he found form and stepped up to the testing track in the World Cup class.

"I was really very pleased with Pico Bello's improvement during the show, as this is the first serious show we've had the opportunity to prepare for since bringing the horse back from Queensland in September last year after the equine influenza outbreak.  Given today was his fourth day's jumping and the temperature was quite hot, he is developing very nicely," David Dobson said after the class.

Linda Dobson rode the promising nine-year old Indoctro grey gelding, Argyle Stables Indigo into second place with just one time penalty incurred in the first round. Indigo continues to impress with his clean jumping and never looked like touching a rail. He proved a little strong in the first round, which cost time, but Indigo opened up and travelled well in the second round.

Matt Godwin recovered from a delayed start after losing a shoe at the practice fence on Kavorca to finish in third place on a total of eight jumping penalties from the first round, finishing on a good note with a clear second round.  Alison Rowland finished a credible fourth place on Sennic on a total of nine penalties.

A field of seven riders competed over a testing track built by course designer Fred Freeman, who said the clear skies and good footing made for a perfect day’s competition.

“The Perth Royal Show organisers allowed me plenty of room to build a true World Cup track on their magnificent arena with a big open track enabling the riders to really keep going forward, as they should at this level of competition,” Mr Freeman said.

There were a total of 12 obstacles with a treble vertical, oxer, vertical at fence seven and a double at fence ten with a big oxer to a very open vertical of only three rails in soft colours, the type of fence Fred had seen used repeatedly at the recent Olympic Games in Hong Kong.

An inviting but solid 1.40 x 1.45m oxer at fence one got the riders moving on the 500m track to a vertical at fence two, then a serious 1.65m wide triple bar at fence three proved popular as the horses had to really open out right in front of the crowd.  There was then a comfortable distance to the sponsor’s Commonwealth Bank vertical jump, and a distance of 18.3m or four strides to an oxer with another 1.50m spread at fence five.

Fence six of a big vertical led riders on a curving left hand 25.6m in either six or seven strides to the start of the combination at seven, which proved to be the most testing line with riders having to dig deep over the 1.50m oxer to get out the other side of the treble. They then had a 270 degree turn to the right to an aesthetic oxer with fanned lower rails, then on a left hand turn to a rising oxer over a liverpool at fence nine, and then on to the 10.80m double at fence 10. There was no let up for tired horses as the oxer at 11 and a final vertical at 12 kept the big questions coming at them.

The competition was run over two rounds, with all riders invited back to compete in the second round against the clock. The second round consisted of eight obstacles raised in height and included the doubles 7b and c, and ending over 10a and b.

The minor placings went to Anna McGregor on Mandarin in fifth place, Chad Donovan on Westphalia Park Amicus in sixth, and Chaise Ludgate on Barrabadeen Tycoon in seventh place. Both Anna and Chaise are members of the 2008 National Young Riders Squad, while Linda Dobson and Indigo are on the National Development Squad.  The valuable opportunity for these riders to compete at World Cup level was endorsed by David Dobson:

"Even though we don't field very many horses in the World Cup events in Western Australia, these events are critical for the longer term development of our sport, not so much for producing a host of grand prix horses, but the event itself provides inspiration and aspiration for our young riders.  The lower end of the sport would be significantly weaker without these World Cup events," David Dobson said.

"It is very exciting for our sport to have the Commonwealth Bank support the World Cup event for the fourth year running," he said.

The riders now have three weeks to prepare for the second World Cup class to be held in WA, at the magnificent State Equestrian Centre indoor arena on 18 October.

Leading the FEI World Cup Qualifiers in Australia after nine rounds is Amy Graham (SA) on a total of 83 points, from Clem Smith (Qld) on 78 points and Julia Hargreaves (NSW) on 63 points.

For more information on the FEI World Cup Qualifiers and to view the current standings click here