Iroko is in a league of his own
Holly Smith enjoys a great Olympia warmup, while there are tears of joy for an international first-timer
THIS has been an incredible year for Holly Smith. The Leicestershire rider has spent much of the season competing at five-star level before performing with great credit at the World Equestrian Games. Next month, she will be jumping in front of her home crowd at Olympia.
Holly arrived at Britain’s only two-star indoor international show with just two horses: a fiveyear-old and a grade A, and she waited until the world ranking grand prix to make her mark.
The first-round course, designed by Nigel Jess and Kelvin Bywater, contained plenty of related distances and dogleg turns. Fences fell everywhere and just nine pairs jumped off.
Ireland’s Billy Twomey took the lead on a new ride, the Dutch-bred Casall stallion Chat Botte ED, but two horses later Holly jumped a stunning round on Claddagh Iroko to take over by more than three seconds. She gave all the credit for her win to the 11-year-old Iroko x Cruising gelding’s previous riders.
“He was well produced by riders such as Alex Thompson, Danielle Farnsworth and Clem McMahon, so I’m just reaping the benefit,” she said. “He’s been jumping at five-star shows all year and you have to go fast at those, so I knew we could have a go.”
This was Claddagh Iroko’s first show since the Nations Cup final in Barcelona.
“He’s a low-maintenance horse and can cope with a break. He also has a brilliant owner in Jason Nunn, who trusts me to do the best for his horse,” added Holly.
Their closest rivals were the brand-new partnership of John Crippen and Happydam, who took a well-deserved second place.
“This horse is such a trier and I’m a trier, so we tried hard together. I hope this has proved that if I have a good horse to ride, I can do the job,” he said.
Riders chased an extra prize in the big tour classes: a wildcard place at Liverpool International. Yazmin Davis won this last year. Coming into the grand prix, she was again leading on points, with Joe Stockdale and Emily Ward close behind.
Yazmin and Emily were clear in round one, but a pole down on Gunner at the penultimate fence put Joe out of the reckoning.
And when third-drawn Emily jumped another great clear on
Remi Cavalleri, the pressure was on Yazmin. She and Zilverster II left one pole on the floor, but their sixth place was enough to confirm Liverpool qualification for the second successive year.
NOT TEMPTING FATE
YAZMIN had already shown her form in Friday’s 72-starter 1.40m speed class. James Whitaker led for some time on his reigning Queen’s Cup winner, Glenavadra Brilliant, a horse not usually renowned for a turn of foot.
“I’m amazed. I went into the ring just hoping to get round without a time-fault!” said the 21-year-old Yorkshireman.
Some 10 horses later, Joe Stockdale and Gunner breezed into the lead by almost three seconds, but Yazmin and Zilverster made full use of their late draw to win by a fraction.
“I loved Liverpool last year and I wanted to go back,” said Yazmin. “I didn’t want to tempt fate after Friday by saying that’s why I was here, but it’s worked out perfectly.”
There was another close finish in Saturday’s 1.45m two-phase when Annabel Shields and Carnoneybridge Challenger beat Emily Ward on Millioninmind by just one-hundredth of a second. With her father Robert, a former showjumper, Annabel runs a 20-horse yard in Co. Durham.
“Annabel works so hard.
She rides, grooms, mucks out and clips,” said Robert. “When Carnoneybridge Challenger comes into the ring, people who don’t know him think he won’t even jump the first fence. He’s a tiny little thing, but he’s dynamite.”
Saturday’s 1.35m speed class was an equally competitive affair and it took a round from Simon Crippen on Atlanta VIII to beat the reigning national speed horse champions, Faye Adams and Demograaf. Simon owns Atlanta in partnership with his supporter Judy Ross and took the ride on the 13-year-old mare in 2013.
“She’s a real winning machine. We all love her because she always tries her hardest,” said Simon.
Faye and Demograaf went one place better in the 1.35m two-phase, winning with the final round of the show.
“All he wants to do is jump. He thinks flatwork is overrated and schools himself at home, jumping from field to field,” she said.
Louise Whitaker headed Friday’s 1.30m two-phase on Special Warrior (Krystal), an eight-year-old owned jointly by Louise’s mother Clare and her breeders from Brendon Stud.
This Warrior x Caretino Glory mare beat a classy field that included Nations Cup performers and five-star grand prix winners, surviving one heart-stopping moment after an ultra-tight turn into the penultimate double.
“I was a bit too brave and am not sure how she managed to jump it, but she’s careful and quick,” said Louise. “She doesn’t have that much indoor experience and she’s still improving.”
TEARS OF JOY
THERE were tears of joy from Beth Smart after she won the small tour grand prix at her first international show. The daughter of racing trainer Bryan Smart showed hunter ponies at top level, but has turned to showjumping with the help of trainer Paul Barker and his former international ride, Sandor’s Legacy, the perfect schoolmaster.
“Paul’s my hero,” said Beth. “I can’t thank him enough for letting me ride this legend of a horse.”
The show’s first individual winner was Polly Shaw with her 10-year-old Irish-bred mare, Golden Grove AIT A, whom she has produced from a four-year-old, in Friday’s 1.10m two-phase. They won here last year before taking an amateur class at Liverpool.
“It’s so lovely to win at my local venue and I can’t praise the Keysoe team enough. The facilities improve every time I jump here,” she said.
Polly also came close in the
opening day’s 1.20m two-phase. She was holding the top two places on Why Not Fado and Galano Ter Klomp, but was demoted by the final round by Nina Emery and Piana. Nina, the reigning national veteran champion, has ridden Piana since her British novice days.
“I’ve had her forever and we know each other so well,” said Nina. “She’s 15 and I can probably give everyone else in the class 10 years, so we’re two old ladies on an outing together.”
DUELLING RIDERS
THE same two riders fought out Saturday’s 1.15m speed. Polly and Golden Grove AIT A pulled off some near-impossible turns and, although Nina and Piana gave it their best shot, they had to be content with second place.
Saturday’s medium tour final produced an exciting 14-horse jump-off. Phoebe Powell looked sure to win on her striking coloured horse Kellys Lad, but Mark Edwards made full use of Its Business Class’ length of stride to sneak into the top spot.
“I didn’t have a win at my last two shows and I was starting to worry, but if this horse leaves the fences up, he’s usually fast enough,” said Mark, who rides the 10-year-old by It’s The Business for another Edwards family.
“Roy Edwards has been quite poorly, so this will hopefully give him a boost,” added Mark.
After riding Galway Bay Jed into the money in the grand prix, Harriet Nuttall gave Silver Lift a fun outing in the following 1.25m speed class. This paid off when the little grey enjoyed himself hugely en route to a decisive win.
“He’s just back after a holiday and he was fantastic,” said Harriet.
There were some lovely young horses in both age groups, so it was some achievement from Chloe Coward to take the six-yearold final on H Blokx, last year’s five-year-old champion here.
Chloe is aiming the son of
Der Senaat at next summer’s Foxhunter second rounds. “This is our local venue, so I thought that might make him a bit blasé,” she said. “But he thrives on pressure and he stepped up today.”
Michaela Webb took the earlier five-year-old title on Infinity. Standing 16hh “on tiptoes”, this Dutch-bred gelding was bought unbroken from Donny and Dawn Janciauskas and this was the first time Michaela had tried him against the clock.
“He’s brave and easy,” she said.