By Rebecca Harper

It was a nail biting finish to the Mitavite Six-Year-Old Series, which was so close in the end that Maurice Beatson on Central Park and Harry Feast with Double J Barman shared the title.

Heading into the final, Dannevirke farmer Maurice Beatson led the series by just two points, with West Melton’s Harry Feast nipping at his heels.

It was edge of your seat action in the series finals jumpoff, and Harry wasn’t going to die wondering, flying around with Double J Barman, leaving all the rails up and stopping the clock in 38.70.

Last out, series leader Maurice and Central Park needed to go fast and clear to hold on to the series title. But Harry couldn’t be caught and Maurice was clear, but slower.

In the end, the finals win was enough to secure the series for Harry – jointly with Maurice.

Heading into the jump-off, Harry knew he needed to be fast and clear, with Maurice and all his experience going last.

“I knew it (the series) was really close, only two points in it. I thought I had to give it a go, and it paid off. It was worth the trip up for, he has been really consistent this season – it’s a good note to finish on.”

The result means Harry took out two series titles for the season, having already secured the Dunstan Horsefeeds & Equifibre Horse Grand Prix Series title with Double J Bouncer yesterday.

The two horses are full brothers, both by Double J Repicharge out of Double J Chatalanie, and bred by Robyn and Wendy Jacobs from Double J Sporthorses.

“I got him as a three-year-old and jumped him in the five-year-olds last year. He was going to ridden by my sister, she started off the season on him but got injured three shows in, so I got him back. Now I don’t want to give him back again.

“He’s my sister’s horse, he’ll go back to her and if they’re both looking ready they’ll do the seven-year-olds. She watched the class on live streaming and was really excited. Her original goal was a top 10 finish, so it was cool for him to take it out.”

Maurice came out in the jump-off knowing Harry had set a blistering time. “Harry had gone fast, and his horse is a faster moving horse. I could have gone a bit faster and it does help going last, but it didn’t pay off today.”

Central Park is by ES Centavos out of Silk and Spice, which is by Omnicorp. Maurice was pleased with the horse, who he purchased as a yearling and has high hopes for. “He hopefully will be a nice horse and go on to be a Grand Prix horse.”

Time has not dimmed his enthusiasm for the sport. “I still love winning, that hasn’t changed. For the young horses it’s always good to bring them up through the age group classes as they’re jumping against their own age group and, for the lower horses, you don’t have to jump against the clock all the time, except at major shows.”

Wellington’s Heloise Tolo continued her great morning, jumping clear and taking third place in the final, moving her up one place to third overall in the series, while Robert Steele was fifth in the finals class, dropping one place to fourth in the series. Rose Alfeld and Cadenza NZPH were sixth in the final, holding their fifth place in the series.

RESULTS 

Mitavite Six Year Old Series Grand Final: Harry Feast (West Melton) Double J Barman 1, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Central Park 2, Heloise Tolo (Wellington) Cant Touch This NZPH 3, Amanda Pottinger (Hawke’s Bay) Good Timing 4, Daniel Webb (Hunterville) Centeur 5, Rose Alfeld (Christchurch) Cadenza NZPH 6.

Mitavite Six Year Old Series: Harry Feast (West Melton) Double J Barman 72 points 1=, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Central Park 72 points 1=, Heloise Tolo (Wellington) Cant Touch This NZPH 66 points 3, Robert Steele (Dannevirke) Two Eye See 58 points 4, Rose Alfled (Christchurch) Cadenza NZPH 53 points 5, Samantha Peters (Northland) Cadillac 48 points 6=, Rachel Malcolm (Waitemata) Monte Carlo MVNZ 48 points 6=.