Sam Jeffree and Santoro reigned supreme today in the R.M. Williams CCI4*-L.
Sam came into the ring in second place and despite Santoro not always being super reliable in the jumping phase Sam looked confident and put together a great round. The rails all stayed in place and ultimately it was enough to take the win by the slim margin of 0.3.
Overnight leader Maddy Seivwright and Waitangi Pinterest had had a dream event until the final phase. Unfortunately, two rails ended their perfect weekend, however, they did finish their Aussie adventure with a credible 5th place.
Sam Woods and SS Eight Count produced a very classy fault-free round to climb from fifth place up to second.
Jessica Rae and Fifth Avenue posted a clear just when it counted to remain in third place.
Shane Rose and The Bandit, sitting in eigth place after cross country, posted the first clear jof the day elevating him to fourth place. The Bandit was also awarded the Victoria Racing Club Best Performed Thoroughbred in the CCI4*-L.
Santoro, sired by Starnberg out of a Regardez Moi mare and bred by Heath Ryan, was originally sent to Sam because he was bucking off his former rider.
“I had him for a little while and I liked what I saw and decided to buy him myself. I syndicated him and now have some really wonderful supportive owners in Lisa Roper, Karen Dabbs, and Andrea Kennedy,” said Sam.
The pair had previously won the CCI2*L at Sydney in 2022. “I love riding at Sydney, this weekend was pretty warm but otherwise a great event. I always enjoy competing at such a great venue.”
“It’s good to have achieve a 5 star qualifier and I will be looking towards Adelaide next year,” added Sam.
Oliver Barrett and Sandhills Special had a strong lead going into the final phase ABEC APIAM Health CCI4*-S. The cross country proved tough for this small class and only three completed the course. Sadly, Justine Streater and Quintina withdrew before trot up leaving Oliver and Joel Funnel on Airbrushed as the only two to jump today.
Airbrushed lowered two rails opening Oliver’s lead to a comfortable 24.4 buffer. He did use up 12 of those points but Oliver was a clear winner.
“She was amazing all weekend,” said Oliver of Sandhills Special, she did one of her best tests and yesterday she was so good. I saw a lot of riders walking home as I went out to cross country so I knew it was tough but she made it feel easy. Today, I had a couple of unlucky rails but it is always a privilege to ride her.”
Christine Bates was able to remain on her dressage score on Bloomfield Findon to be victorious in the Limitless Lodge CCI3*-L. Bloofield Findon also won the Kohnke’s Own Young Event Horse Championship for 7/8-year-olds.
Shane Rose and Holy Moses moved up from third to second adding no further penalties whilst Olivia Shore on Eliva Castana took third place with lovely clear round.
The Victoria Racing Club Best Performed Thoroughbred in the CCI3*-L was awarded to Fantastic Mr Fox riden by Deon Stokes.
The Limitless Lodge CCI3*-S was won by Hannah Deegan from Tasmania on her lovely thoroughbred HK Hawthorn. Sophia Hill, freshly home from a successful campaign in the U.K, rode Tulara Baltango to second place with a clear round whilst Will Enzinger on Cairo Xtreme also jumped clear to improve his position from sixth overnight to third place.
There were no changes in the top three places in the CopRice CCI2*. The quality of the horses in this class was very high. Niki Rose and Dreamrush took put the class on their dressage score and also claimed the Kohnke’s Own Young Event Horse Championship for 6/7-year-olds. Judith Clarke and Oaks Quasimodo and Lamoza Velish and Call Me Cooley both remained on their dressage scores for eventual second and third places. Skye McCoullough won the best placed Junior rider in the CCI2*-L
Niki Rose also won the Rose-Hip Vital CCN1*-L aboard Cooley All Over followed by Shenae Lowings abouard the Tinney Family’s Caruso. Emily Anker and Defying Gravity rounded off the top three.
Clare Feeney and Mythology of Freya were the winners of the Bates Saddles CCN1*-L finishing on their dressage score. Georgina O’Sullivan placed second on Wyuna Top Quality and also won the Akubra Grassroots CCN1* Championship. In third place were Niki Rose and Limitless Lodge Zsa Zsa.
Jesper Barrett on Somersby Belle won the Hannover Lodge CCN1*-L Junior
Other awards were as follows:
REC EQUINE SPECIALISTS 95A
1st Scarlett Webber and OPH Rockpool . They were also winners of the HORSELAND EvA95CM JUNIOR
2nd Jemima Southwood and Asham Fireman
3rd Gemma Silk and Dunrostan
HUNTER HORSE BOXES AUSTRALIA EvA95-B
1st Cathryn Herbert and Mallyon Hills Julio
2nd Brielle Dawson and Canada. They were also the winners of the Akubra Grassroots 95cm
3rd Sam Lyle and Flinstone
ANTARES EvA 80CM -A
1st Erin Brown and Jayem Bliquo. They were also winners of EQUESTRIAN NSW EvA 80cm JUNIOR
2nd Shiva Wiedemann and Sandhills Spice
3rd Dane Schwartz and Dalghar Blue
HORSELAND EvA80-B
1st Molly Corbett and Ailes Rouges
2nd Catherine Baxter and Koko Bean. They were also winners of the AKUBRA GRASSROOTS EvA 80cm
3rd Eve Mclellan and Harry Fl
EVENTING NSW EvA65
1st BRIANNA Harris and Flynn Rooney. They were also winners of the AKUBRA GRASSROOTS EvA 65cm
2nd Emily Cusworth and One Star Shining
3rd Matilda Ewart and Mallyon Hills Serusier
IRIDEEQ JUNIOR EvA 65 -A
Winner Sophia Jones and KS Bobby Sox
COMPLETELY EQUINE EvA65-B
1st Finola Mcconaghy and Dynamite Diana
2nd Angela Cohen and APH Marbles
3rd Eboniee Staggs and My Vegemite
LIMITLESS LODGE GRASSROOTS TEAM CHAMPIONS 2024
ZONE 10
Erin Brown and Jayem Bliquo
Tiarne Hile and Missile Heat
Zachary Palamara and Monsun Soldier
Madeleine Dahan and Index Society
ROBERT SLADE MEMORIAL TROPHY Presented to the Winner of CCI4*-L Event
Sam Jeffree
HOLSTEIN PARK LEILANI TROPHY Presented to Highest placed mare in CCI4*L or CCI4*-S
Fifth Avenue ridden by Jessica Rae
ROD WINCHESTER TROPHY For Best and Fairest Young Rider
Olivia Shore
RACHEL WATTS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
Katrina Silk
2024 GROOMS AWARD
Shannon Price
BEST DRESSED AT IRIDE EQ TROT-UP
Shana Buchanan
Shashank Kataria
