Another of David Doel's rides is well known in Australia - Wendy Schaeffer's horse Koyuna Sun Magic
As UK based eventers prepare for the start of the season, which is only days away, some of them headed to the somewhat warmer climes of Barroca d’Alva in Portugal from 26th February – 1st March to get their first hit out of the year.
David Doel, who finished top of the 2014 British Eventing Goldman Cup Under21 leader board, made the trip down to the popular event at Barroca d’Alva very worthwhile with a win in the CIC2* riding Miss Caruso. David led from go to whoa with a strong score of 31.2 in the dressage and he added only 2.8 time penalties to this to finish on a score of 34, ahead of France’s Regis Prud Hon riding Debuit (43.7) and Belgium’s Karin Donckers riding Jalapeno (45.9). The name Jalapeno gives it all away – she is by Christopher Stone’s stunning stallion Chilli Morning competed with great success by William Fox-Pitt and the chestnut mare, competing at her first 2* event this weekend, is one of the stallion’s first progeny showing great potential.
Karin, who is the most experienced member of the Belgian eventing squad recently named for 2015, turned the tables on David with a win in the CIC1* riding Lady Brown with a score of 44.8 and also picked up third on Quartz de la Ferme (48). David had to settle for third in this class riding Eisfee (46).
Watch David Doel and Miss Caruso ride cross country at Belton International 2014
