Sarah Rao (CHN) and Geniaal during the FEI Dressage Asian Championship 2025 in Pattaya (THA) © FEI / Yong Teck Lim

Sarah Rao (CHN) was the standout athlete of the week in Pattaya (THA) together with her 14-year-old Geniaal. After already posting the highest score in the Prix St Georges and winning gold in the Intermediate I, Rao added a third title today by claiming gold in the Intermediate I Freestyle in Pattaya. Their winning score of 79.180% put them over 5% ahead of the field. The podium line-up remained unchanged from the Intermediate I: Shruti Vora (IND) and Magnanimous secured silver on 73.800%, while Pakjira Thongpakdi (THA) and Samira O took bronze with 72.505%.

The FEI Asian Championships came to a close today for the individual Dressage competitions, where Sarah Rao (CHN) and Geniaal dominated from start to finish. They set the tone on day one and went on to produce the highest score in all three tests. Their 79.180% today was just shy of the 80% mark, and created a substantial gap to the rest of the field.

Brave floorplan and powerful music choice

Rao presented Geniaal (owned by the athlete) with energy, impulsion and an uphill tendency, along with a very brave floorplan in their Freestyle. With four combinations still to come, they faced a tense wait to see if the score would hold, and it did.

“We did it!”, Rao celebrated afterwards. She admitted that nerves played their part ahead of the Freestyle:

“I was so nervous I was even struggling to stand up. The past two days went very well, but normally the Freestyle is my weak point. So I listened to my music like 500 times, and managed to stay calm during the test. I could keep everything on track, I’m so happy everything worked out!”  

Sarah Rao

(CHN) 

Rao performed to music from a Chinese computer game. “I wanted Chinese music because I’m Chinese. But I also wanted to show that Chinese music can be powerful and really cool.”

Silver and bronze decided in a tight battle

While Rao was untouchable on the scoreboard this week, the fight for silver and bronze was intense. Very early in the class, a top score was produced by Laura Richardson (UAE) with Bergsjoholms Valbonne (owned by The Royal Stables). In the Prix St Georges and Intermediate I the horse gave her a hard time, building up a lot of tension. But in the Freestyle everything came together, and they delivered a flawless test with an uphill frame and strong flying-change lines. Their 71.025% held the lead until the final five athletes, and Richardson ultimately finished sixth.

It took some time before another combination passed the 70�rrier. The next to do so was Chanjanok Klara Ruecker (THA) with Vincent 186 (owned by the athlete and Suntari Assunta Maria Ruecker). The horse has a scopey trot and showed a solid overall picture, although they made a mistake in the flying changes every third stride. Their 70.105% put them seventh.

Saoud Ahmad S A Al Boinin (QAT) also broke the 70% mark with Blue Hors Touch of Olympic L (owned by Qatar Equestrian Federation), scoring 70.545% for eighth place. The degree of difficulty was not the highest, but the execution was confident, despite a small mistake in the two-tempis.

Final starters raise the pressure

After Al Boinin, it was Rao’s turn, and her score would stand until the end. The final four starters made it exciting. Directly after Rao, Divyakriti Singh (IND) entered with Improver (owned by Nadja Lommers and Remy Bastings Dressage Horses), the energetic dark gelding. Improver showed an uphill frame and lots of quality in his paces. The pirouettes lost some jump, which cost points, and with 71.605% they finished fifth.

Next up was the Intermediate I bronze medallist, home athlete Pakjira Thongpakdi (THA) with her mare Samira O (owned by the athlete and Dul and Subhanandh THongppakdi). Riding to upbeat Shakira music, the pair delivered an energetic presentation. The extended walk was a highlight, along with many trot exercises, but the pirouettes were challenging and a mistake in the two-tempis added tension to the wait. Their 72.505% ultimately proved enough for bronze.

“After my test I was not too happy”, she admitted. “I thought I had too many mistakes, we were a bit ahead of our music and Samira felt a bit tired. But she really gave it all this week, and I’m happy it was good enough for a medal. Samira is very special to me.”

Vora completes her triple silver medal haul

Then came the Intermediate I silver medallist, Shruti Vora (IND) with Magnanimous (owned by the athlete, Jitendarjit Singh Ahluwalia, Hansika Vora and Varun Vora). The dark bay gelding was ridden with great sympathy by Vora and showed a consistent and willing picture all week. The entire test flowed, with expressive half-passes, clean flying-change lines and a high degree of difficulty. With 73.800% Vora also earned Freestyle silver, meaning she returns to India with three silver medals after the country also secured team silver earlier in the week.

Vora bought Magnanimous as a young horse, and her German-based coach Helen Langehanenberg trained him to Grand Prix level. Vora lives in India but travels to Germany regularly to train.

“I’m so happy I have this opportunity. Manni (Magnanimous) is brilliant. He has three fantastic paces. If there are mistakes in a test, they come from me. I’m blessed to have him in my life, and I think our medal is historic for India”

 Shruti Vora 

(IND) 

The final starter, Jacqueline Wing Ying Siu (HKG), came within touching distance of a medal with Izonik (owned by Heather and Rowan Bryson). The combination has only been together for six weeks, but already performed a strong Freestyle to ABBA music. The frame was nicely open, though occasionally it could have been more collected. Their 71.955% left them just half a percent off the podium, meaning the Intermediate I podium was repeated in the Freestyle.

Closing chapter for the individual Dressage

This brings the individual Dressage competitions at the FEI Asian Championships to a close, with two individual gold medals for Sarah Rao and Geniaal, and team gold for the home nation of Thailand.

RESULTS