Mary Hanna wins the World Cup Freestyle at Werribee

Mary Hanna and her 10-year-old KWPN gelding Boogie Woogie, posted a personal best score for the second consecutive competition to win the World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle this weekend and qualify a second mount for the Pacific League final in New-Zealand in two months to seek a start at the global championship in Omaha in March. Mary and her Olympic partner were awarded 72.12%. She also took second place on Sancette on 70.125%.

The pair won the Grand Prix Friday and with the Freestyle success logged their first back-to-back victories in 14 starts since beginning Grand Prix in January.

This was also the first competition in Australia since March when the duo went to Europe to win selection to the Australian team at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the fifth Games for Mary.

This was the last of seven World Cup events in the Pacific/Asia League ahead of the league final in Feilding, New Zealand in February to determine the single representative from Down Under for the championship final in Omaha, Nebraska March 27-April 2.

Although there were five World Cup events in Australia and two in New Zealand, it is the only league that provides for combinations successful in CDI3* Freestyles to also be invited to the league final.

New Zealand will be the host nation of the 2016/17 Pacific League World Cup Final that will take place during the National Dressage Championship at Manfeild Park Stadium, South Street, Feilding, New Zealand from 1-5th February 2017.

Mary won two of the qualifiers, this show on Boogie Woogie and on Sancette at Equitana Melbourne last month.

Heath Ryan riding Utopian Cardinal won two World Cups this year.

Mary Warren, making history at the Nationals this year by winning the Freestyle at the age of 18 on her horse Mindarah Park Ramadan, capitalises one World Cup also this year.