Girl power
TWO outstanding mares ensured a stellar day at the o ce for Jordan Cook as he clinched both RIHS riding horse and hack championships.
His leading riding horse was Paul Mortimer’s small contender Royal Illusion (Gracie), a former H&H one to watch. By Ricardo Z out of Mirror Of Games, Gracie was found in Ireland by James Woodington and has recently competed between the white boards, winning 12 tests from 12 starts.
She capped her 2019 season with the overall novice supreme at the British Show Horse Association championships.
“She gave me a fabulous ride,” said Jordan, reecting on Gracie’s performance at Arena UK. “She’s everything a show horse needs to be and more, and she could be nothing else but a riding horse.”
Jordan also rode Cindy Dilasser’s home-bred Stanley Grange Regal Heights mare Sutton Grange Lady Eleanor into poll position in the hack championship. This is Jordan’s third year with 10-year-old “Ellie” under him for production.
“She’s a proper old-fashioned hack,” he said. “She’s always looking to please. She’s proven to be a very versatile little mare, too; one week she’s ying round crosscountry courses, the next she’s winning dressage.”
Steph Peto was the pilot to beat in the RIHS M&M Heritage classes, winning three tickets and heading the championship riding her own open newcomer, veyear-old Connemara Loughmore Rebel. Steph’s other winners were Welsh section C gelding Popsters Picasso and Fell stallion Murthwaite Heir Hunter.
Florrie Duncalf landed both RIHS show pony and part-bred honours riding the elegant ve-year-old Cusop Dimension 138cm gelding Whiteleaze Debutante, who is based with Julie Templeton.