Amanda Ross and Dicavalli Diesel lead at lunch time
Adelaide is blooming hot again today with the purple jacaranda trees that just shout South Australia to you providing a beautiful backdrop for this unique city event.
Whereas it was steamy and overcast yesterday, the sun is out in full force today but the breeze that has the flags flapping is providing some relief. The early riders had the coolest temperature of the day with Victorian rider Andrew Cooper on Fairbanks Cappucino taking the lead with a score of 52.30 but he was soon overtaken by Western Australia’s Tegan Lush on Touchstone Felix with a score of with a score of 49.90 to finish the morning session in third place; this may cheer up Tegan a bit as she had to withdraw her other horse from this class at yesterday’s first horse inspection.
From Tegan to Megan and the local hero Megan Jones was in the lead by the morning break riding the ex-hunter show horse, History. This horse is part Andalusian and looks impressive in the arena but this breeding doesn’t slow him down on the cross country “He’s one of the fastest horses I’ve got!”says Megan who was very happy with the test “his best so far” and the judges, led by the USA’s Wayne Quarles (USA), rewarded them with 45.10.
But it was Megan’s friend Amanda Ross riding her new horse Dicavalli Diesel (the Hugh Jackman of horses, as Amanda calls him) who really impressed the judges for the sub-40 score of 37.40 that Amanda was looking for (well, 28 would be better but maybe not just yet)
We spoke to Amanda whilst waiting for the scores
Amanda Ross
Christine Bates and Ned O’Reilly, an off the track thoroughbred, put in a very polished performance for fourth place with a round 50 while young Queenslander Madeline Wilson is in fifth on 51.60 riding Mumbo Jumbo and another off the track thoroughbred, Ballyhoo ridden by Shenae Lowings is sixth on 52.
A very happy owner of Dicavalli Diesel - Chrissie Brown is having her first ever trip to Adelaide
