Who do you think it will be?

The main contenders at this stage:

Brett Parbery and Victory Salute

Heath Ryan and Greenoaks Dundee or Regardez Moi

Rozzie Ryan and Donna Carrera

Kristy Oatley and Quando Quando or Don Bolero

Maree Tompkinson and Lanzaro

Mary Hanna and Port Said 10

Am I missing anyone obvious?

Oh, if I was picking the team, I'd probably go with...

Brett Parbery, Heath Ryan, Rozzie Ryan and Kristy Oatley.

It's a bit tricky, because they haven't got many recent scores to go by... aaaand I haven't paid much attention to them anyway

Ummm. That's a tricky one.

Dundee is more reliable than Regardez Moi... but I reckon Regardez Moi is probably capable of higher scores than Dundee... (maybe, heh, what do I know? )

As for Kristy Oatley's horses, I haven't seen either of them in real life and I can't find any videos on the internet... but I think Quando Quando just won something or other in Europe...

Quote:

Kristy Oatley and Quando-Quando have won the Löwen Classics Grand Prix Freestyle at the CDI4* Braunschweig (GER) on the weekend. Starting the season in grand style Kristy and Quando-Quando scored a massive 77.65% to win the class ahead of Hubertus Schmidt riding Weltissimo on 75.00%. "It was the best test he has ever done," said Kristy "it was a big show with lots of atmosphere and I just went in there and went for it. Quando just seemed to know what to do, it is hard feeling to describe, he has never felt like that before." "We have been working really hard and he is in top form." Kristy and Quando-Quando also finished 5th in the Grand Prix on a score of 69.46%. The Grand Prix was won by French rider Karen Tebar aboard Falada M on a score of 71.50%.

Source

So I guess Quando Quando and Regardez Moi?

It's exciting isn't it? This is our best chance ever! Let's hope we get a rider or two through to the freestyle!

Sure, we're not going to win any medals... but it's still going to be great to watch them!

Yeah, that would be nice wouldn't it?

Go off, get married and have a baby then pop back in to do a couple of international competitions in time to qualify for the olympics!

It would also be nice to be able to base yourself in Europe... with a leading trainer... with a whole heap of really nice horses...

*Stares off into the distance*

Things are getting interesting now! I've just been reading the horse magazine, and apparently the main contenders are:

Already selected: (?)
Kristy Oatley and Don Bolero (Not sure about Quando Quando or any other horses she may have?)

Strong possibilities
Mary Hanna and Port Said or Rambo
Brett Parbery and Victory Salute
Rozzie Ryan and Donna Carrera
Heath Ryan and Greenoaks Dundee (but what about Regardez Moi? )
Maree Tompkinson and Lanzaro

Other combinations not picked for the official selection events, but who with good scores could maybe stand a chance?
Hayley Beresford and Relampago do Retiro
Peter Weston and Winslow
Chantal Wigan and Ferero

It's still a bit confusing though.

Ooh, it's getting interesting now! Hayley Beresford has been added to the main list.

Check out the results at Lingen

Quote:

2008 Medien Cup Qualifier - Preliminary Grand Prix * 1 Kristy Oatley-Nist - . Clive - 68.650% (Australia)

Quote:

2008 Median Cup Qualifier - Finals Grand Prix # 3 Kristy Oatley-Nist - Clive - 68.600%

Quote:

Grand Prix for Special # 19 Chantal Wigan - Ferero - 61.417% (Australia) # 20 Mary Hanna - Rambo - 60.417% (Australia)

Quote:

Grand Prix for Kur # 3 Kristy Oatley-Nist - Quando-Quando - 70.500% (Australia) # 8 Hayley Beresford - Relampago de Retiro - 67.333% (Australia) # 14 Brett Parbery - Victory Salute - 65.208% (Australia) # 16 Heath Ryan - Greenoaks Dundee - 65.000% (Australia) # 17 Rozzie Ryan - Donna Carrera - 64.500% (Australia) # 19 Mary Hanna - Port Said - 63.000% (Australia) # 20 Maree Tomkinson - Lanzaro - 62.750% (Australia) # 21 Peter J. Weston - Winslow - 61.750% (Australia)

Quote:

Grand Prix Kur to Music # 4 Kristy Oatley-Nist - Quando-Quando - 73.950% (Australia) # 12 Hayley Beresford - Relampago do Retiro - 65.000% (Australia)

Quote:

Grand Prix Consolation class # 4 Heath Ryan - Greenoaks Dundee - 64.861% (Australia) # 6 Maree Tomkinson - Lanzaro - 63.403% (Australia) # 7 Brett Parbery - Victory Salute - 63.333% (Australia) # 9 Chantal Wigan - Ferero - 63.056% (Australia) # 10 Rozzie Ryan - Donna Carrera - 62.708% (Australia) # 11 Mary Hanna - Rambo - 62.222% (Australia)

All I know is that I wouldn't want to be a selector right about now...

It's getting close now! I might go start a Beijing Olympics thread...

I can't believe I forgot to update this when I found out the team!

It's:

Hayley Beresford riding Relampago Do Retiro
Kristy Oatley riding Quando-Quando (with reserve horse Don Bolero),
Heath Ryan and Greenoaks Dundee

Travelling Reserve: Rozzie Ryan riding Donna Carrera

Controversy there with Regardez Moi missing out!

There's more info here about the horse events at the Olympics and who is competing and when. Less than 14 days to go