The excitement is building with just one week until the start of the 2018 Sydney International Horse Trials.
As Australia’s leading event riders look towards the World Equestrian Games, to be held in Tryon, North Carolina in September, they are heading to Sydney to prove their value to Australian Team selectors.
Seventeen combinations will contest the Bates CCI3* and the strong field has many in-form combinations.
Emma Bishop and CP Issey Miyake, winners of Wallaby Hill CCI3* in December last year are strong contenders. They have an amazing record of winning 50% of all FEI competitions they have started.
Christine Bates and the experienced Adelaide Hill are ones to watch. They have completed 3 CCI3*s in their career and have won two of them. They have won their last three CIC3* starts. Christine will also ride the super jumping TB Ned O Reilly. Ned ran 6th at Wallaby Hill CIC3* last year and 3rd at SIEC CIC3* earlier this year. He is not as consistent as Adelaide Hill but he is a real talent.
Sonja Johnson and her young superstar 9yo Misty Isle Valentino come to Sydney with two CIC3* wins this season and a 5th place at Adelaide CCI4* last November while Stuart Tinney, just returned from the WEG Test Event at Tryon and the UK, will front up on 2017 NSW Eventing Horse of the Year War Hawk. This experienced combination were 3rd in Adelaide CCI4* last year.
Megan Jones and Kirby Park Impress will certainly be out to impress. This pair finished 2nd at Adelaide CCI4* last year, had a win at Tominbuk CIC3* earlier this year and hey put in a cracking dressage at Camden CIC3* scoring 25.4 penalties. They are capable in all three phases and will be a strong contender for the win.
Former CCI4* winner Hazel Shannon and Willinga Park Clifford are listed to start after having a difficult start to their year following a fall at SIEC in February. When they are hot they are hot and cannot be discounted.
Shane Rose will be riding the baby of his 3 star string, the 8yo Swiper. Whilst it will be Swiper’s first CCI3* no one should underestimate this combination. They have four top 3 places in CIC3* and were the winners on Wallaby Hill CCI2* last December.
Victoria's Amanda Ross has returned to top level competition with force. Aboard the lovely thoroughbred mare Koko Popping Candy you will witness two determined and talented ladies. They were runners-up at Wallaby Hill CCI3* last year and are coming off a good preparation this season with a 3rd place at Camden CIC3* recently.
Andrew Cooper and 9yo Hunters Hill were winners at SydHT 2017 in the CCI2*. They won the Wandin CIC3* earlier this year and are a talented young combination looking to put their name on the board.
Robert Palm and 10yo TB Koko Story have the experience to put in a strong performance. They were impressive at Adelaide CCI4* last year to finish 6th. They finished 2nd at Tonimbuk CIC3* this year.
West Australian Lauren Browne and Sky’s da Limit won the 2017 Wooroloo CCI3* on an impressive 48.3 penalties and they had a top 10 finish at Melbourne CCI3* as well. This combination will be one to watch.
Also over from the west is Michael Dagostino who is riding Kinnordy Gatow. This hose was formerly ridden to 5th place at Adelaide CCI4* with Michaela Martindale. Michael has ridden the horse since 2017 and has a number of top 3 finishes in CIC3*.
Rachael Lee has been competing a string of lovely 2 and 3 star horses all season and her hard work is paying off. She will be riding 11yo Holstein mare Lansina (Landos). They ran 5th in the CIC3* at SIEC earlier this year and are looking for a competitive run.
Hayley Frielick will start two horses. Class Action LP and My Happiness. Both horses have been there and done that and know their way around a 3 star. My Happiness finished 3rd at SydHT CCI3* last year and Class Action was 4th at Wallaby Hill 2017.
Jessica Grossman will be aboard Belmont Backstage. These two finished 7th at Wallaby Hill CCI3* in 2016 but more recently had a great run at Wandin CIC3* 2018 to finish 4th.
The full list of starters in all the classes and a timetable of events is available in the SydHT website
