Shane Rose and Virgil lead the way after a testing show jumping phase
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Shane Rose not only leads the CNC4*-S at the Randwick Equine Centre Sydney Eventing Summer Classic on board Virgil (29.60) but also holds second place riding Easy Turn (30.90), the mare he bought overseas and brought back to Australia, who is turning out to be pretty darn good.
Shane’s two horses had to jump their way to top today however, being in third and eighth places after the dressage while Heath Ryan led the way on the black stallion with the sweetest nature, Wimborne Constable (check out our Instagram story for a little interview with Wimborne Constable – although he didn’t actually say much!)
Heath Ryan and Wimborne Constable
Heath took the lead with a score of 26.8 ahead of Tim Boland on Napoleon (28.4) and Shane on Virgil but unfortunately Wimborne Constable wasn’t quite as happy in the show jumping arena and, after refusals at the second part of the double, Heath was eliminated
The show jumping phase was very influential with John Vallance’s course really testing the riders, even when the time was amended from 74 seconds to 76 seconds. Only two combinations jumped double clear; Shane on easy Turn and Hazel Shannon on the 2018 Adelaide CCI4* winner Willinga Park Clifford and they looked as if they were going to make it from the very start. Hazel moved up to the fences and took some economical lines which Clifford is so good at, making it look easy. They were rewarded by moving up from 12th place after the dressage (35.80) into third place heading into tomorrow’s cross country phase
Hazel Shannon and Clifford
Shane also had a clear jumping round on Virgil but added 1.2 time penalties and his third horse in this class, Ultimate Velocity also jumped clear with 0.8 time penalties. The only other clear round came from Jordyn Faint who put in an impressive round on board Double S & Evergreen Jackpot at their first start at this level, adding just 3.6 time penalties
Jordyn Faint and Double S & Evergreen Jackpot (above) and Sam Lyle (below)
The CCN 3.5* class also completed dressage and show jumping today and is led by Sam Lyle riding BP Valour, who has a few penalties in hand on a score of 31.90 over second placed Jess Rae and Fifth Avenue (37.50)
Fantastik Mr Fox had no trouble jumping once he got to the fence!
The 60cm classes concluded today with four class winners taking home rugs and goodies from their class sponsors. The Randwick Equine Centre EvA60-Open was won by Inge Sildnik on Deciding Vote who are also coming back tomorrow to contest the 80cm! Deon Stokes took second place in this class on the four-year-old off the track thoroughbred Fantastik Mr Fox who took some persuading to the first jump but then looked like a real star of the future
“He was really well behaved in the dressage” said Deon “But when we were nearing the show jumping, the commentary started and it must have brought back his racing days!”
The OzShotz EvA60 Amateur was won by Phillip Blunden (above), who was thrilled to win, especially as he only started eventing five years ago having never ridden before. His daughter Justine events and he has inherited her past 2* horse, Syracuse; they completed the EvA60 on their dressage score of 23.10 ahead of much younger competitors!
Olivia McCulley and Silverthorn Gunsmoke
Olivia McCulley (above) took the Cross Country App EvA60C Junior class on board Silverthorn Gunsmoke and Charlotte Jacobson won the JoJubi Saddlery EvA60D Junior class. Charlotte has only owned her horse, Bradgate Park Don Palermo who she bought from Jordyn Faint, for a few days but they obviously have bonded well, winning on their dressage score of 27.30, well ahead of second placed Harry Warner on Sweet Kiss with a score of 35.40
Charlotte Jacobson
