Cash Up hits the jackpot
This huge show highlights plenty of home-grown talent, and a show stalwart enjoys some time centre stage
WITH more than 900 horses arriving over the four days, the new season at this popular venue began with some terrific sport.
The star of the show was Georgia Tame, who added the top spot in Sunday’s 1.50m open to her 1.40m win on the opening day.
Both Georgia’s victories came on Cash Up, one of her top rides for Team Z7. Georgia and the 14-year-old German-bred gelding came back to Britain in March after spending three months competing in the United Arab Emirates.
“It was different, but in a nice way. I learned so much while I was there,” said Georgia.
Cash Up had a month’s holiday when they returned to Georgia’s boss Shane Breen’s Hickstead yard, and this was his first show since coming home.
“I’ve been selected for the British young rider squad at Fontainebleau in France and I needed some good classes to get us going again. This show was perfect,” said Georgia.
On Thursday, she and Cash Up held off the challenge from Ben Walker on Brendon Stud’s exciting Native Warrior by almost 2sec.
“I didn’t think I was going that fast, but he is naturally quick,” said Georgia.
Ben was delighted with
Native Warrior, an eight-year-old daughter of Warrior who was a winner on her international debut at the Spanish Sunshine Tour.
“She’s not very big, but she’s stepped up to these classes easily. She’s still improving,” he assessed.
The 1.50m open was a much closer affair. Keith Bristow designed a course that was up-to-height but contained no tricks, and it proved perfect as an introduction to the level for younger horses.
Nine good pairs reached the jump-off, where it looked as though Nicole Pavitt had set an unbeatable target from first draw on her mother Sandra’s homebred Gemmarco 16, a son of Unbelievable Darco.
Chelsea Skelton, who makes the trip to Pyecombe regularly from her Lincolnshire home, jumped a great round on Millfield Baloney, but was almost a second too slow. However, without looking as though they were hurrying and with the smoothest of turns, Georgia and Cash Up stopped the clock fractionally ahead to set an unbeatable time.
“He’s so fast and he needed to be today. That was a great jump-off,” said Georgia.
Second-placed Nicole was pleased with her nine-year-old stallion’s performance.
“I didn’t think we’d win,” she said. “He looks as if he’s going fast, but he spends lots of time in the air. He’s been jumping double clear in ranking classes at shows abroad and he’s grown up a lot.”
BELLE OF THE BALL
NICI WILSON paid two productive visits here. She began on Thursday by winning the newcomers with her five-yearold Katie Belle and then headed the 1.20m and 1.30m classes on Naomi 55. Nici was back on Saturday and this time produced a flying round to win the 1.40m speed class on the eight-year-old Viktor Krum before dashing to Gatwick airport to leave for a skiing holiday.
“I’m so pleased with Viktor Krum. He came from Brightwells sale as a three-year-old and was the first horse I bought with my long-time owners Barry and Karen Carter,” said Nici.
“It’s lovely to have had him from the start. He’s combining showjumping and eventing and jumped round the Belton two-star event last weekend.”
And what of Naomi?
“She’s a superstar. She’s had 10 wins this year and she’s like a fine wine. She gets better with age!”
Charlene Bastone warmed up for a trip to Moorsele in Belgium by capturing Friday’s 1.40m open on a new ride, Liberty 348. This 10-year-old Dutch-bred mare belongs to Anja Jackson, who trained previously with Charlene’s bosses, David and Louise Simpson, and rode Liberty in amateur classes.
“Anja’s now gone to university, so I’m riding Liberty,” said Charlene. “She’s fun to ride, but I don’t think anyone on the yard realised just how good she is.
I’m hoping she might be one for ranking classes.”
ROUNDING UP THE REDS
DESPITE berating herself for not having great results on Saturday, Leesa Long kept up her record of multiple wins at the venue, taking home seven red rosettes this time. She was particularly pleased with her two British novice victories on the four-year-old Rouaddi Entina.
“I usually ride older horses and I feel a bit like a fish out of water with a young mare,” admitted Leesa. “We bought her as an unbroken three-year-old and although she’s still very green, I think she may suit me perfectly.”
Alex Bishop, another local rider, enjoyed two Foxhunter wins in classes with starters around the 100 mark. Alex was riding Matt Pike’s seven-year-old Dutchbred Copain, a horse who keeps surprising owner and rider.
“Matt got him in part-exchange and there was little interest when we tried to sell him, so we thought we’d take him to a few shows,” said Alex. “He seems to get better with every outing.
“He’s sensitive and I’ve spent a lot of time making him my friend — and a lot of money on carrots. It seems to be working.”