Doubling up
TWO riders combined old and new partnerships to net both of the schedules’ Blue Chip qualifiers at The Grange EC, Devon, and Northcote Stud, Lancashire.
At Northcote, it was Sarah Winterbottom who dominated the Blue Chip Joint RLF power and the 1.25m qualifiers, riding
Nediva Z, who she was competing for the first time in two years, and her prolific Dolly V.
Seven-year-old Nediva, by Nonstop, is owned by Amanda Wilkinson, who is currently out of action with broken ribs.
“I rode her for a while as a fiveyear-old, but she has only been out a handful of times in the past two years with her owner,” said Sarah. “She’s never gone against the clock before but she is very careful and has a lot of jump for a 15.2hh.”
Sarah also partnered her home-bred “baby” Dolly to a successful “sweetener” around the 1.25m. The 10-year-old mare has notched up an impressive record in 1.30ms and stepped up to some 1.40m classes this year.
The grey daughter of Geoff Glazzard’s Why Me survived a serious injury during lockdown when she severed an artery on some fencing.
“We have the special netting that is designed to be horsesafe but she was sniffing the neighbours over the fence, pawed with a front leg and managed to get it stuck. If I hadn’t have been there she would have bled to death,” Sarah said.
“I had to wait an hour for the vet with her leg held up and by the time we transported her to the surgery, she’d lost so much blood the vets said it would have killed a dog or a human. She was in intensive care for a week but she is a tough old bird. She does me proud and never lets me down.”
“A PROPER WINNER”
AT The Grange, Rachel Vicary added the FMBs Therapy Systems star qualifier to the extensive tally of wins she has secured with Sparkling Indulgence. She backed it up with a first “career win” for six-year-old Cavalier Bravo in the discovery qualifier.
It was the third consecutive victory for 15.1hh Sparkling Indulgence, who started his career in ponies before measuring out.
“He’s like a pony on horse legs and he’s a proper little winner,” said 21-year-old Rachel. “Now he’s a bit older we limit what he jumps a bit more, although he’s very sound and still lives and breathes competing.”
The grey gelding is based with Rachel’s mother Mandy, who hacks him during the week.
Cavalier Bravo, who only recently started jumping BS, topped the discovery qualifier by an astonishing nine seconds.
“I say to mum that he’s the next Sparkling Indulgence – he’s quick and careful, whatever height you jump,” Rachel said.