JAMES Connor and the Stefan Köhler-bred Vanotti have put themselves into contention for a Team Ireland slot for the FEI Senior Dressage World Championships in Aachen, Germany following a strong showing at the three-star show in Verolanuova, Italy last weekend.

Connor scored an international personal best total of 68.830% with Chiara Opler’s 13-year-old Westphalian gelding Vanotti for fourth place in the Grand Prix Special, the combination having made their CDI big tour debut in February of last year. Canadian Pan-American team silver and individual bronze medallist Chris von Martels scored 70.787% with Londoncrown to win the class.

Paris Olympian Corentin Pottier with San Clouds Lucky were runners-up on 70.149% and Ulrike Prunthaller and Fleur 435 completed the podium in third on a 70.128% total.

Connor secured two top-four placings in Verolanuova with Vanotti and consecutive international personal best scores [68.435% in the Grand Prix and 68.830% in the Grand Prix Special]. In their debut international Grand Prix Kür Freestyle to Music class, James and the Oldenburg gelding Matondo, bred by Heinrich Vahle, placed fifth on 68.890% with his Michael Jackson-themed freestyle programme. James Connor and Vanotti have already achieved a FEI MER (Minimum Eligibility Requirement) qualification, along with Jessica Dunn (Dan Its Carson), Abi Lyle (Giraldo) and Alex Baker (Top Gear) for the Aachen FEI Senior Dressage World Championships this August.

Reflecting on his performance, Connor said: “We have travelled a lot this year and Vanotti has been marvellous. He has really come on and continues to make super progress. But for a blip in the one tempi changes today, I believe we could have scored over 70% in the Special. I’m really fortunate to currently have three big tour and one small tour horse in my string. Many thanks to my owner Chiara Opler, who is based here in Italy. Matondo is only a nine-year-old and we started him at big tour international level at the three-star show in Ornago back in March. He did a super job today in his first freestyle, which was just his sixth CDI3* big tour outing in all. I will be liaising with Team Ireland high performance manager Anne Marie Dunphy after this show. We may consider including another international show in my schedule for next month, possibly Mâcon Chaintré in France in the first week of July.”

Connor left Dublin to ride and teach, firstly in Denmark and subsequently in Italy, where he has been living for over 40 years. James, who speaks fluent English and Italian and enjoys travelling, golf and music, rode at two World Equestrian Games and one European Championship for Italy. A noted international dressage trainer, Connor declared for his native Ireland in 2003. He was a member of the Irish team at the WEG in Caen, France in 2014 and he subsequently recorded multiple international big tour podium placings with his World Games mount Casino’ Royal.