This is where I want to be mum! Diablito and Judy on track to a win in the CNC2*
It probably isn’t fair to look down a list of riders and say “aha, there’s the likely winner” but when you see Judy Clarke and Diablito on a 2* draw, you can’t help it.
Judy and the 18 year old Diablito started with a leading score of 44.70 in the dressage in the Horseland CNC2* at the Randwick Equine Sydney Summer Classic, following it up with a clear show jumping round and just 0.8 time penalties on cross country thanks to some determined riding and maybe Diablito’s desire not to be retired!
The horse that has one of the best track records you’re likely to see at this level just missed out on winning the CCI3* at Melbourne International 3DE and was third in the CCI3* at Sydney International last year then Judy decided to end his career on a high note. But Diablito had other ideas and convinced his rider not to leave him in the paddock – he would rather be out there having fun
They certainly had fun at SIEC, putting in the second fastest time on cross country and Judy now has her eyes on the Australian International 3 Day Event in Adelaide in November. They finished second in the CCI2* there in 2015 but this year Judy is hoping to complete the CCI4*
Judy Clarke
Although Judy was fast, the only double clear cross country came from young rider Hannah Lewindon on board the 13 year old mare Veretti. This pair finished fifth in the Bates CCI2* Young Rider Championship at the Australian International 3DE last year (watch their XC ride here) and they moved up from ninth place after the dressage here thanks to their speedy ride
Shenae Lowings and Venture Sky High
Another Young Rider who finished in second place at Adelaide, Western Australia’s Shenae Lowings picked up third in this class on Venture Sky High
Sadly we didn’t catch up with either of the CNC1* winners. Brett Cantle and the chestnut stallion Premonition won the Sydney Eventing @ SIEC CNC1*A while another Queenslander, Mattea Davidson won the CNC1*B on the lovely eight year old mare Kinnordy Gwendolyn
The imported stallion Premonition, who was the 2015 Queensland Elementary and Medium Dressage Champion with Emma Flavelle-Watts and also won an advanced class at the 2016 Brisbane CDI, was second after the dressage on a score of 41.30.
This multi-tasking stallion has also been competed by Brett in eventing for the past two years and this win adds to their win in the CCI1* at the 2016 Queensland International 3 Day Event and another win at his first 2* start at Tambourine. One to watch from the look of things (the world needs another chestnut eventing stallion now that Chilli Morning has retired ....)
Read our Sydney Summer Classic 3* & 2.5* report here
