No wonder he's smiling! Shane Rose and Virgil have a 'quiet hit-out' for a win
An Eventful Life filmed all competitors on cross country at
Sydney Eventing Summer Classic - find out more here
Time was of the essence on the CCN4*-S cross country course at the Randwick Equine Centre Sydney Eventing Summer Classic with no-one making the optimum time but few having difficulties with the obstacles. Shane Rose and Virgil, leading after the dressage and cross country, weren’t the fastest with 13.2 time penalties but they maintained their lead to finish on a score of 42.80.
This was Virgil’s first eventing start of the year, having done a bit of show jumping to ease him back into competition, and it was a ‘quiet little hit-out, just to see where things are at” says Shane, who was pleased with the win and also changes made to his tack
“He did a nice dressage test and show jumped really well; I’ve changed the bit on him and put him back in a snaffle and he’s going really well in that both for both jumping and cross country”
Virgil will now hopefully head to New Zealand as part of the Australian Oceania Challenge team competing at Taupo and later in the year may be travelling further with a trip to Europe on the cards. Shane also finished in fifth place on Easy Turn and ninth on Ultimate Velocity
Hazel Shannon and Willinga Park Clifford made a big jump up the leader board yesterday with their double clear show jumping round and today produced the third fastest time with 8.4 penalties to finish in second place on a score of 44.20.
Hazel Shannon (above) and Emma Bishop (below) handle the water with ease
Emma Bishop and CP Issey Miyake are also looking on very good form for the start of the season, with another good time of 7.2 for third place on 44.60 but the fastest cross country round of the day went to Thea Horsley and Kelecyn Supernatural, finishing in sixth place thanks to just 6.4 time penalties
Niki Rose and Glenorchy South Park
A Rose also won the Randwick Equine Centre CNC3*-S but this time it was Shane’s wife Niki riding Glenorchy South Park. They moved into the lead from fifth place after the dressage when Andrew Barnett picked up 20 penalties on Bradgate Park Galileo and Tim Boland was eliminated while Niki cruised around with 5.2 time penalties, finishing on 34.50.
Emma Mason on Aramatai Fox took second place (35.90) and Victorian Sophia Landy, the current Young Rider Champion, made the trip worthwhile with third on Humble Glory (39.40) and sixth on ESB Golden Geisha (42.90). Sophia is moving up to 4* at Tonimbuk, the first time for both horses and herself at this level, so she wanted ‘to make sure we were on track and ready for the big step up’ and it seems that they are
Emma Mason (above) and Sophia Landy on Humble Glory (below)
Sam Lyle and BF Valour won the Randwick Equine Centre CNC3.5*-S with ease, leading from start to finish and finishing on 31.90, a massive 13.20 penalties ahead of Jess Rae on Fifth Avenue in second place (44.70) and Hamish Cargill riding Legolas KPH in third (45.80)
Lots more to come from the Randwick Equine Centre Sydney Eventing Summer Classic so stay tuned …..
